What Is Prescribed Information?
When you take a tenancy deposit, you must do two things within 30 days:
Prescribed Information is a specific document, defined by the Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007. It is not just a receipt or a note, it is a formal document with mandatory content.
What Must Prescribed Information Include?
The Prescribed Information document must include:
Practical tip: All three approved schemes provide a Prescribed Information template. Use their official template rather than writing your own.
What Happens If You Don't Provide Prescribed Information?
The consequences are severe:
1. Court can order payment of 1 to 3× the deposit
The court has discretion to order you to pay the tenant between 1 and 3 times the deposit amount as a penalty. On a typical £1,200 deposit, that is £1,200 to £3,600.
2. Section 21 is blocked
You cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice until the deposit is either returned in full or a court penalty has been paid.
3. No time limit on claims
Tenants can make a claim at any point during the tenancy, not just at the end. Even if the deposit was taken years ago, a late PI claim is still actionable.
The 30-Day Clock: What Triggers It?
The 30-day window starts from the day you receive the deposit, not the tenancy start date, not when the tenant moves in.
If you receive a holding deposit that later converts to a full deposit, the 30-day window starts from when the holding deposit was received (subject to scheme rules).
What if you miss the deadline?
Protect the deposit immediately and serve Prescribed Information as soon as possible. The tenant can still claim, but courts may award a lower penalty (1×) if you acted quickly and in good faith.
How to Serve Prescribed Information Correctly
Collect the tenant's signature on the Prescribed Information document. Without a signature, you may struggle to prove service if there is ever a dispute.
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📦 Free — First-Day Tenant Document Pack Checklist (England 2026)
Every document a UK landlord must give a new tenant on day one — with the statute, the deadline and the evidence rule for each.
- Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, Deposit Prescribed Information, How to Rent
- RRA Information Sheet (31 May 2026 duty)
- Tenant Privacy Notice (UK GDPR)
- Tribunal-grade service-proof checklist
Frequently asked questions
Is Prescribed Information the same as the deposit certificate?
No. Prescribed Information is a mandatory information pack (scheme details, amounts, dispute process, etc.). The scheme’s certificate alone is not a substitute for full PI.
Can tenants claim if Prescribed Information was served one day late?
They may still bring a claim for non-compliance; courts have discretion on penalties (1× to 3× deposit). Never rely on the 30-day window being "flexible".
What information must be included in the Prescribed Information?
Under the Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007 you must include: the scheme name and contact details, landlord and tenant names and contact details, the deposit amount and property address, the tenancy start date and period, circumstances in which the landlord can withhold all or part of the deposit, and the tenant's right to apply to the scheme for dispute resolution.
Who signs the Prescribed Information?
Both the landlord (or authorised agent) and every adult tenant named on the tenancy must sign. A missing tenant signature is a common reason Section 21 notices are struck out, so chase any outstanding signatures BEFORE the 30-day window closes.
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