When must you protect the deposit?
Enter your rent, the deposit and the date. We’ll show the deadline to protect it, the most you can take, and what happens if you miss it.
Protect it by
22 December 2026
Within 30 working days of the tenancy starting (weekends and bank holidays don’t count). That’s 43 days from today.
- Maximum deposit
- £1,800.00
- Rule
- 2 months’ rent
- Information to the tenant by
- 22 December 2026
Give the tenant the required information within the same 30 working days, including the scheme’s details and your landlord registration number.
If you miss it: The tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal during the tenancy or up to 3 months after it ends. The tribunal must award up to 3 times the deposit.
Approved schemes: SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland, mydeposits Scotland.
If the deposit is paid in instalments, lodge each one within 30 working days of receiving it.
Checked against official guidance on 9 November 2026. A planning aid, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to protect a deposit in Scotland?
30 working days from the start of the tenancy. Weekends and bank holidays don’t count. You must also give the tenant the required information, including your landlord registration number, within the same period.
What is the maximum deposit in Scotland?
Two months’ rent. You can’t charge holding deposits or other fees on top.
How long do I have in England?
30 days from receiving the deposit, for the protection and the prescribed information. The deposit is capped at 5 weeks’ rent, or 6 weeks if the annual rent is £50,000 or more.
What happens if I don’t protect the deposit?
In Scotland a tribunal can order you to pay up to 3 times the deposit. In England and Wales the court must order 1 to 3 times the deposit. Since 1 May 2026 in England you also can’t get a possession order on most grounds until it’s put right.
Which deposit schemes can I use?
Scotland: SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland and mydeposits Scotland. England and Wales: the Deposit Protection Service, mydeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Northern Ireland: TDS Northern Ireland and mydeposits Northern Ireland.