Why it matters
What Client Money Protection (CMP) means for a landlord
For a landlord using an agent, client money protection is what stands between you and a lost month of rent or a missing deposit if the agent collapses or misuses the money. It is not the same as a redress scheme, which handles complaints, and it does not replace deposit protection, which must still be in an authorised deposit scheme. Before an agent holds any of your money, ask for the certificate, check it is in date and confirm client money is kept in a separate client account. If an agent cannot show a current certificate, do not let them collect your rent.
Worked example
How it plays out
Rachel uses a small agency in Kent to collect £1,300 a month in rent. In March the agency stops answering calls and two months’ rent, £2,600, never reaches her. Because the agency belonged to an approved client money protection scheme, Rachel can claim from the scheme for money the agent held for her, subject to the scheme’s rules and limits. Before signing up she had checked the certificate was current. A landlord whose agent had no cover would be left chasing a business that may have nothing left.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Confusing client money protection with a redress scheme: an agent normally needs both.
- 02Not checking the certificate’s expiry date before handing over rent collection.
- 03Letting rent sit with an agent for weeks without regular statements.
- 04Assuming client money protection covers deposit protection, when a deposit must still go into an authorised deposit scheme.
What to do
A short checklist
- Ask your agent for their current client money protection certificate and redress scheme membership.
- Check the agent keeps client money in a separate client account.
- Ask for a monthly statement matching rent received to money paid out.
- Keep your own record of rent due so a shortfall shows up quickly.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
