Deposit prescribed information explained

Deposit prescribed information is the set of details about a tenancy deposit, and the scheme protecting it, that you must give your tenant and anyone who paid the deposit for them within 30 days of receiving it. Since 1 May 2026, if you haven't given it, the court cannot make a possession order on most Section 8 grounds.

It is the second half of deposit protection: protecting the money isn't enough on its own. Both duties are on our landlord compliance checklist.

What counts as deposit prescribed information?

The legal requirements are in the Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007, and the duty to give it is in section 213 of the Housing Act 2004. GOV.UK lists what the tenant must be told:

1. the address of the rented property;
2. how much deposit they have paid;
3. how the deposit is protected;
4. the name and contact details of the scheme, and its dispute resolution service;
5. your name and contact details, or your letting agent's;
6. the name and contact details of anyone who paid the deposit on the tenant's behalf;
7. why you might keep some or all of the deposit;
8. how the tenant can apply to get the deposit back;
9. what to do if they can't contact you at the end of the tenancy;
10. what to do if there is a dispute over the deposit.

Who must receive it, and by when?

Who	Deadline
The tenant (every joint tenant, to be safe)	Within 30 days of receiving the deposit
Anyone who paid the deposit on the tenant's behalf, such as a parent	Within 30 days of receiving the deposit

The 30 days run from the day you receive the deposit, not from the day the tenancy starts or the day you protect it. If the money arrives on Monday 2 November 2026, give the prescribed information by Tuesday 1 December 2026. That counts the day of receipt as day one, which is the safer reading.

Watch out: If the deposit came from more than one person, for example part from the tenant and part from a parent, each person who paid needs the information.

A prescribed information checklist template

Use this to check that the document you give, whoever prepared it, covers every item on GOV.UK's list. It is a checklist, not an official form; if you're unsure, check the 2007 Order itself.

DEPOSIT PRESCRIBED INFORMATION

Property address: ____________________________________________
Deposit amount: £__________      Date received: ___ / ___ / ______
How the deposit is protected: _________________________________
Scheme name: _________________________________________________
Scheme contact details: ______________________________________
Scheme dispute resolution service: ___________________________
Landlord (or agent) name and contact details: _________________
Anyone who paid the deposit for the tenant: ___________________
Reasons the landlord may keep some or all of the deposit:
______________________________________________________________
How to apply for the deposit back: ____________________________
If you cannot contact the landlord at the end of the tenancy:
______________________________________________________________
If there is a dispute about the deposit: ______________________

Given to: ____________________   Date given: ___ / ___ / ______
Method (hand, post, email): _________   Proof kept: yes / no

Keep a signed or dated copy with the scheme certificate. If you ever bring a possession claim, these are the documents that show the court you've complied.

What happens if you don't give it?

Two things, and the second matters most if you ever need the property back.

1. A penalty. The tenant, or a former tenant, can apply to the court. If the prescribed information wasn't given, the court must order you to pay between 1 and 3 times the deposit.
2. A bar on possession. Under section 215 of the Housing Act 2004, as substituted on 1 May 2026, the court may make a possession order only if the prescribed information has been given, alongside the other deposit conditions. The exceptions are Ground 7A and Ground 14.

The bar affects the court order, not your notice. You can still serve a Section 8 notice, but fix the prescribed information before the hearing. The bar also lifts if you return the deposit in full or with agreed deductions, or if a tenant's deposit claim has been decided, withdrawn or settled.

If you think the tenant may defend the claim on deposit grounds, read our guide to defended possession claims and consider speaking to a solicitor.

Common prescribed information mistakes

1. Forgetting the person who paid. A parent or employer who paid the deposit must also get the information.
2. Leaving items out. Check every one of the 10 items above, especially the scheme's dispute service and the third-party payer.
3. Counting from the wrong date. The 30 days run from receipt of the deposit.
4. No proof. If you can't show what you gave and when, you may struggle to prove it at a hearing.
5. Assuming protection is enough. The possession bar needs both the protection and the prescribed information.
6. Missing a new deposit. If the tenants change or you take a top-up, check your scheme's rules and give fresh information if in doubt.

What to do next

Add the 30-day deadline for every new deposit to ValidNotice's free compliance reminders. If you plan to keep money from the deposit at the end, read our guide to deposit deductions for rent arrears.