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Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) was introduced by the Housing Act 2004  as part of a package of measures to raise standards in the private rented sector.  Please use the link below to the Housing Act 2004.

Since 6 April 2007, all deposits (for rent up to £25,000 per annum) taken by landlords and agents for assured short hold tenancies (AST) in England and Wales have had to be protected by an authorised tenancy deposit scheme.

ASTs are the usual tenancies made between a private landlord and his tenants.

There are two main aims:

  • to ensure good practice in deposit handling, so that when a tenant pays a deposit, and is entitled to get it back, he or she can be assured that this will happen
  • to assist with the resolution of disputes. It will also encourage tenants and landlords to agree - at the start of the tenancy - the condition and contents of the property

A landlord is ultimately responsible for ensuring that any deposit he or she takes from a tenant in respect of an AST is protected and that the statutory requirements of tenancy deposit protection are met.

Find out more detailed information on the mandatory protected schemes.