What is Prescribed Information for Deposits?
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Prescribed information is specific details about deposit protection that landlords must give tenants within 30 days. It includes: which scheme holds the deposit, the scheme's contact details, dispute resolution procedures, and landlord/tenant information.
Protecting the deposit is only half the job. Serving prescribed information is a separate legal requirement with its own 30-day deadline.
What is prescribed information?
Prescribed information is a document containing specific details that tenants need about their protected deposit. It's set out in regulations and each deposit scheme provides a template that meets the requirements.
This is different from the protection certificate—though both come from the scheme, they're separate documents with separate purposes.
What must it include?
The regulations specify exactly what prescribed information must contain:
- Name and contact details of the deposit protection scheme
- Name and address of the landlord
- Name of the tenant(s)
- Address of the rented property
- Amount of deposit held
- How to apply for deposit return at end of tenancy
- What to do if there's a dispute
- Purpose of the deposit (what it covers)
- Situations where landlord can keep some or all of it
How do I serve it?
Download the prescribed information document from your deposit scheme after protecting the deposit. Check the details are correct. Serve it on every tenant named on the tenancy agreement within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
You can serve by:
- Hand delivery (get signed receipt)
- Post (recorded delivery recommended)
- Email (if tenant agreed to electronic service)
What if I don't provide it?
The consequences are the same as not protecting the deposit itself: you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice, and the tenant can claim compensation of 1-3 times the deposit amount.
Many landlords protect the deposit but forget (or don't know about) the prescribed information requirement. The scheme won't chase you—it's your responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Is it the same as the protection certificate?
No. The certificate confirms the deposit is protected. Prescribed information tells the tenant how the protection works, how to get their deposit back, and how disputes are resolved. You need to serve both, but they're separate documents.
Do I need to serve it on every tenant?
Yes. If there are three tenants on the agreement, each must receive the prescribed information. Giving it to one doesn't cover the others.
What if tenant details change?
If a tenant's address or contact details change, or if someone moves out and a new tenant joins, you should serve updated prescribed information. Each new tenant needs to receive it.
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
Create a workflow: protect deposit → download certificate → download prescribed information → serve on all tenants → file proof of service. Do this the same day you receive the deposit. Don't leave it until day 29.