The deposit rules in England
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps the tenancy deposit a landlord or agent can take for most residential tenancies in England:
- 5 weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is less than £50,000
- 6 weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is £50,000 or more
- A holding deposit to reserve a property is capped at 1 week’s rent
To find the weekly rent from a monthly rent, multiply by 12 and divide by 52. Because deposits are capped in pence, this calculator rounds down.
Protecting the deposit
You must protect the deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and give the tenant the prescribed information in the same period. Failing to do so can lead to a penalty of up to three times the deposit.
Wales and Scotland have different rules, so this calculator is for England only. See GOV.UK tenancy deposit protection for the official guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum deposit a landlord can take?
In England, the maximum is 5 weeks’ rent if the annual rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks’ rent if it is £50,000 or more.
How do I work out 5 weeks’ rent from a monthly rent?
Multiply the monthly rent by 12, divide by 52 to get the weekly rent, then multiply by 5. For £1,250 a month that is £1,442.30.
How much can a holding deposit be?
A holding deposit can be no more than 1 week’s rent.