Deposit Protection Certificate Explained
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A deposit protection certificate is official proof that your tenancy deposit has been registered with one of the three government-approved schemes: DPS, TDS, or MyDeposits. You receive it after your landlord registers your deposit, and it contains a unique reference number you can use to verify protection.
What is a deposit protection certificate?
It's the official document confirming your deposit is protected under the Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme. In England and Wales, landlords must protect deposits within 30 days of receiving them. The certificate serves as your proof that this legal requirement has been met. Without it, you have no evidence your deposit is actually protected.
What information does it contain?
A deposit protection certificate typically includes: a unique deposit ID or reference number, the deposit amount, the property address, start date of the tenancy, names of the landlord and tenant(s), which scheme is holding or insuring the deposit, and how to raise a dispute if needed. The exact format varies slightly between the three schemes.
When do you receive it?
You should receive the certificate (or a link to access it online) within 30 days of paying your deposit. This is because landlords must protect deposits within 30 days and provide you with the prescribed information, which includes details of the scheme used. If 30 days have passed and you haven't received anything, contact your landlord immediately.
How do you access or download your certificate?
Most schemes now provide certificates digitally. Log into the scheme's website using your email address and the property postcode, or use the unique reference number your landlord should have given you. You can then view and download your certificate as a PDF. If you've lost access, contact the scheme directly with your tenancy details.
- DPS: Log in at depositprotection.com
- TDS: Log in at tenancydepositscheme.com
- MyDeposits: Log in at mydeposits.co.uk
What if you didn't receive one?
This is a serious red flag. If your landlord hasn't given you a deposit protection certificate within 30 days, they may have failed to protect your deposit - which is illegal. You can check directly with all three schemes using your name and property address. If your deposit isn't protected, you may be entitled to compensation of 1-3 times the deposit amount, and your landlord cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice.
How can tenants verify their deposit is protected?
You don't need to rely solely on the certificate. Each scheme has a free online checker where you can verify your deposit is genuinely protected. Simply enter your details (name, postcode, deposit amount) and the scheme will confirm whether a matching deposit is registered. Do this at the start of every tenancy and keep a screenshot as evidence.
Managing this yourself?
LandlordOS helps UK landlords stay compliant and organised:
- Automatic compliance reminders for Gas Safety, EICR, EPC
- Document storage with AI-powered certificate reading
- Tenancy tracking and rent management
LandlordOS tip
Always save your deposit protection certificate in a safe place - you'll need it when your tenancy ends. If there's any dispute about your deposit, the certificate and its reference number are essential for raising a case with the scheme's free dispute resolution service.