Deposit cap and deadline calculator

The most deposit you can take, the most you can take as a holding deposit, and your deadline to protect it. Free, and nothing you type leaves your device.

Your result

Fill in the form and choose Work it out.

How it’s worked out

Deposit cap. One week’s rent is the yearly rent divided by 52. You can take up to 5 weeks’ rent if the yearly rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks’ if it’s £50,000 or more (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1). The cap is per tenancy, not per tenant (GOV.UK). We round down to the penny.
Holding deposit. Up to 1 week’s rent.
Deadline. Protect the deposit and give the prescribed information within 30 days, counting the day you received it as day 1 (Housing Act 2004, s.213). Use one of the 3 government-approved schemes (GOV.UK).
If you miss it. The court must order you to pay the tenant between 1 and 3 times the deposit (s.214). It also can’t make a possession order on most grounds until the deposit is protected and the information given (s.215).

The Tenant Fees Act doesn’t apply where the yearly rent is over £100,000 (GOV.UK). Since 1 May 2026 a deposit must be money, not an item (s.213(7)).

Checked 14 October 2026. This isn’t legal advice.

Questions

What is the maximum deposit a landlord can take?

5 weeks’ rent if the yearly rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks’ if it’s £50,000 or more. For £1,000 a month that’s £1,153.84.

How long do I have to protect a deposit?

30 days, counting the day you received it. You must also give the tenant the prescribed information within the same 30 days.

What happens if I don’t protect the deposit?

The court must order you to pay the tenant 1 to 3 times the deposit, and it can’t make a possession order on most grounds until you put it right.