42 COMPLIANCE CHECKS · ALL 3 SCHEMES COVERED · DEDUCTIONS GUIDE · DISPUTE PROCESS · UPDATED 2026

One missed deadline.
Up to three times
the deposit.

Deposit mistakes are one of the most common — and most expensive — errors UK landlords make. Here's how to make sure you never make them.

🔒 All 3 schemes covered⚖️ Penalty risk scoring📋 Prescribed information📄 PDF compliance report
48
Checks
6
Stages
Live
Risk score
Free
Always

Check your compliance now

PDF report and full risk breakdown included.

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Preview — what you'll get

Deposit Compliance ChecklistStage 2 of 6
Deposit protected within 30 days
Scheme reference number recorded
Prescribed information served
⚠️ Penalty risk: prescribed information failure — up to 3× deposit
Risk score14 pts — Gaps to Address

The penalties for deposit non-compliance

💰

Maximum deposit penalty — per tenancy — for late or missing protection

⏱️
30 days

The non-negotiable window for protection AND prescribed information service

⚖️
£1,500+

Typical penalty on an average deposit — before legal costs are added

🚪
Blocked

Possession proceedings can be invalidated by unresolved deposit compliance failures

Penalties are awarded per tenancy. A landlord with multiple non-compliant deposits faces multiple separate penalties.

How it works

Your compliance position in under 15 minutes

1

Work through 6 stages

Answer 48 checks across every stage of the deposit lifecycle — from taking the deposit on day one to resolving a dispute at the end.

2

See your risk score

Your compliance score updates as you answer. Any failures in protection or prescribed information trigger an immediate penalty warning.

3

Download your report

Export a full compliance report showing your results by stage, all red-flag items, and a prioritised action list.

What's included

Every stage of the deposit lifecycle

48 checks across 6 stages — from the day you take the deposit to the day it's returned or disputed. Every penalty risk covered.

💰

Taking the Deposit

8 checks

Deposit caps, prohibited payments, scheme choice, and 30-day deadline tracking from day one.

🔒

Protection Requirements

8 checks

All three government-approved schemes covered — DPS, MyDeposits, TDS. Custodial and insurance-backed.

📋

Prescribed Information

9 checks

The second most penalised failure. Exactly what to serve, to whom, how, and within what deadline.

🏠

During the Tenancy

5 checks

Inventory management, inspection records, and fair wear and tear — the documents that win disputes.

⚖️

Deductions Guide

12 checks

Betterment rules, evidencing deductions correctly, the 10-day return rule, and itemised schedules.

🏛️

Dispute Resolution

6 checks

ADR process, burden of proof, evidence bundles, and county court route — so you're never caught out.

📊

Risk Score & Results

Risk score

Overall compliance score with band verdict and per-stage breakdown. Any critical failures flagged immediately.

📄

PDF Compliance Report

PDF export

Export your full checklist results with action items, risk flags, and legal callouts as a branded PDF.

Why this matters

The 30-day window starts the moment you receive the deposit

  • Protection AND prescribed information must be served within 30 days of receiving the deposit — not the tenancy start date
  • Penalty of 1–3× the deposit amount per breach — protection and prescribed information are treated separately
  • Deposit failures under the Renters Rights Act 2026 can block a valid possession notice
  • The burden of proof in every deposit dispute lies with the landlord — not the tenant
  • Betterment rules mean you cannot claim full replacement cost for worn items
  • All three government-approved schemes covered — DPS, MyDeposits, TDS (custodial and insured variants)
Stage 2 — Protecting the DepositPenalty risk

"The 30-day clock starts on the day you receive the deposit — not the tenancy start date, not when the agreement is signed. Missing this deadline exposes you to a penalty of 1-3× the deposit amount."

Stage 5 — DeductionsCommon mistake

"Betterment means you cannot claim the full replacement cost of an item if it was already old or worn at the start of the tenancy. Adjudicators apply betterment consistently — claims that ignore it are routinely reduced."

Stage 6 — Dispute ResolutionLegal fact

"The burden of proof in deposit disputes lies with the landlord — not the tenant. You must evidence every deduction you claim. An adjudicator will not award deductions without documentary evidence."

Free · 48 checks · PDF included

Deposit compliance is a process.
HomeDash makes it automatic.

HomeDash tracks your deposit protection deadlines, prescribed information service dates, and tenancy documentation across every property — alerting you before deadlines pass, not after.

Start tracking free — one property, forever

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