Rent deposit protection schemes in the UK: the basics for tenants and landlords

Most assured shorthold tenancy deposits must be protected within a statutory window and prescribed information given. The three government-authorised schemes operate similarly at a high level, with different branding and dispute processes.

Tenant checklist

Confirm which scheme holds your deposit, where the certificate is, and how to raise a dispute at the end. Keep copies of the inventory and photos as Documents.

Landlord checklist

Protect in time, serve information, and do not deduct without evidence. Poor paperwork is a common source of disputes.

General information only, not legal advice. Rules differ outside England and Wales.

Property Passport UK

Use Property Passport UK to organise Documents, Media, Tasks, Events, and Flags for a Property, and to share a Public Passport when you want buyers or permitted Stakeholders to see selected facts without exposing private Documents.