Deposit Protection Scheme
A government-authorised scheme that holds or insures tenancy deposits. Three schemes are approved in England: DPS (Deposit Protection Service), TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) and mydeposits. Deposits must be protected within 30 days of receipt.
At a glance
- Schemes (England)
- DPS, TDS, mydeposits
- Window
- Protect within 30 days of receipt
- Penalty
- 1–3× deposit + Section 21 block
- Prescribed info
- Must be served with protection
Full guide
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Open full guideWhy Deposit Protection Scheme matters for landlords
Deposit protection is the most frequently-litigated breach in the landlord world because the sanction is both financial (1–3× the deposit) and procedural (blocks Section 21 historically, still blocks some Section 8 routes post-RRA). The 30-day window runs from receipt, not from tenancy start, so a deposit collected two weeks before move-in shortens the available time. Landlords relying on a letting agent should keep their own receipt dates; agent failures are still the landlord’s liability in tenant-deposit claims.
Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Deposit Cap
The limit on tenancy deposits set by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Five weeks' rent where annual rent is under £50,000, six weeks' rent where rent is £50,000 or more. Holding deposits are separately capped at one week's rent.
DPS (Deposit Protection Service)
The largest of the three government-authorised deposit protection schemes in England. Offers both custodial (free) and insured deposit protection. Landlords upload deposits within 30 days and issue Prescribed Information to the tenant.
mydeposits
One of the three government-authorised deposit protection schemes in England. Offers custodial and insured options. Deposits must be protected within 30 days of receipt.
TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme)
One of three government-authorised deposit schemes in England. Offers a custodial scheme (TDS Custodial) and an insured scheme (TDS Insured). Adjudication is included for disputes at end of tenancy.
Compliance Score
A 0-100 score LetCompliance assigns to each property based on how up-to-date its safety certificates and tenancy documents are. 100 means Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposit protection and Right to Rent are all current; the score drops as deadlines approach and is recalculated daily.
Prescribed Information
A document landlords must give tenants within 30 days of receiving a deposit, alongside deposit protection. It tells the tenant which scheme holds the deposit, how to reclaim it and how to raise a dispute. Failure to serve it can result in a penalty of 1-3 times the deposit.