How Long Can a Landlord Hold a Deposit After the Tenancy Ends?

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A deposit is a pretty common request when it comes to renting in the UK - this also applies to most student accommodation. You’ll pay a set amount upfront, usually up to five week’s worth of rent, and this is held until the end of your tenancy. Once your tenancy ends, you’ll be refunded this amount in full if there’s no damage to the property or cleaning fees. However, you might be wondering exactly how long you’ll have to wait before the deposit is put back into your bank account.  

Keep reading to find out all you need to know about tenancy deposits and the return time limit. 

Deposit protection schemes 

If you’ve signed a shorthold tenancy agreement, your deposit needs to be protected under one of two available deposit protection schemes by your landlord or letting agent. These are: 

👉🏻 Custodial: The scheme itself holds your deposit. 

👉🏻 Insured: The landlord or letting agent holds your deposit during your tenancy. However, when your tenancy ends, if there’s a dispute, they must give your deposit to the scheme. This is why it’s called “insured” as it ensures you’ll get back to the money you’re entitled to. 

Your landlord or letting agent should inform you which tenancy deposit protection scheme they have used. However, if you’re unsure what scheme your deposit is protected by, you can find out by visiting the Tenancy Deposit Scheme website and filling out the information.  

In the UK, there are 3 main providers of deposit protection.  

👉🏻 Deposit Protection Service (DPS) 

👉🏻 The Dispute Service (TDP) 

👉🏻 Mydeposits 

If you’re a student who lives in halls, your landlord is not obligated to protect your deposit.  

How long can a landlord keep your deposit? 

Custodial scheme 

If your deposit is protected by a custodial scheme you’ll be able to request it be returned to you through the scheme directly. Your landlord will then be contacted and asked to respond to your request. If they agree with your request (there are no damages or cleaning fees to be deducted), they should repay your deposit amount within five working days. 

Insured scheme 

When your deposit is protected by an insured scheme, this means your landlord or letting agent is holding the deposit. You won’t be able to request the deposit back directly from the scheme they’ve chosen, but you’ll be able to request it back from your landlord. Once you’ve placed your request, the landlord will either agree to the amount or let you know how much they plan to take from it for things like damages and cleaning fees. They should then return the deposit 10 days from the date you first requested your deposit back. 

It’s important to remember that you can’t request your deposit to be returned to you whilst still within the lease agreement. You can only request it after the tenancy is up.  

Take a look at our blog, “How do I get my tenancy deposit back”, for more information on how to request your funds. 

What if the landlord wants to deduct money from my deposit? 

A landlord can only deduct money from your deposit for the following reasons: 

👉🏻 Arrears or any unpaid rent 

👉🏻 Damages to the property 

👉🏻 Professional cleaning fees 

👉🏻 Damaged or missing furniture 

It’s super important to leave the property in the condition you found it in and document this in the inventory checklist. You should receive an inventory checklist when you move in—make sure you fill it out and return it to your landlord! This way, at the end of your tenancy, there should be no disputes regarding cleaning or missing furnishings.  

We’ve put together some “Tips for moving out to make sure you get your deposit back” that could be useful! 

However, if a landlord is seeking deductions from your deposit, they need to write to you to explain why and the amount they intend to take. They need to do this within 10 days of you requesting your deposit back. If they don’t do this, you can file a dispute through your tenancy deposit scheme. If you believe the landlord's charges are unfair and you can’t come to an agreement between the two of you, you again can file a dispute with your deposit scheme. 

How UniHomes can help 

Here at UniHomes, we work with a number of reputable landlords and letting agents, putting your mind at ease about your deposit and how it’ll be protected! What’s more, all the properties that we list on our site come with bills included, meaning you won’t even need to think about contacting suppliers to set up an account, as we’ll do the work for you. All you need to do is take a look at the selection of student properties on our site and pick your next ideal home.  

Contact us with any questions you might have, we’ll be happy to help!