#AskTDS: "I paid a deposit to my agent last week and didn't receive a receipt. Is my deposit protected?"

This article has been written in response to a tenant's query: “I paid a deposit to my agent last week and didn't receive a receipt.  Is my deposit protected?”

You should be able to request a receipt as confirmation for any payment/s that you make to a landlord or their letting agent.  It may be worth contacting your agent initially to see if they are able to provide you with a copy of this for your records.   In relation to a tenancy deposit protection, there are other documents that can confirm that your deposit has been correctly protected.

When you pay your tenancy deposit to your letting agent or landlord, as the tenant you will be served with details listed as the prescribed information; this would also include the relevant tenancy deposit scheme leaflet.

A tenancy deposit must be registered for protection with one of the Government approved schemes within a period of within 30 days of making that payment. In addition, the Prescribed Information must also be provided to the tenants and any relevant person (someone who pays the deposit on behalf of the tenants) within the same same 30 day period. This will inform you of where your deposit is protected and how the relevant scheme works.  It will also advise you what happens to the deposit at the end of the tenancy, in the event the parties are unable to reach an agreement as to deductions.

To check if your tenancy deposit has been registered with us TDS also gives you the ability to visiting our website directly to check if your deposit is being protected with us.  The link below will take you to the webpage “Is my deposit protected with TDS?” where you can type in your tenancy deposit certificate code to locate your deposit protection information.  If you cannot locate your code, there is a button allowing you to search using your tenancy agreement information; this will ask for the deposit amount, the tenancy postcode, the surname of the listed tenant and your tenancy start date.

What is a tenancy deposit certificate?”

A tenancy deposit certificate is our version of a receipt to you to show that your tenancy deposit has been protected with us.  TDS operate two tenancy deposit protection schemes; one is Insured where the landlord or the letting agent are our member and hold the tenancy deposit; the other option is our Custodial scheme where TDS hold the tenancy deposit. Delivery of the registration certificate is not a requirement under the Tenancy Deposit Protection legislation, however it’s an easy way to show that the registration has been made. It also provides tenants with their unique tenancy deposit code/reference which will allow them to review the details of their tenancy deposit protection as well as utilise the alternative dispute resolution service at the end of the tenancy, if required.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) is a government approved scheme for the protection of tenancy deposits; we offer both insured and custodial protection. We also provide fair adjudication for disputes that arise over the tenancy deposits that we protect.

TDS can only comment on the process for our scheme, other deposit protection schemes may have a different process/require different steps.

About TDS

Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) is a government-approved scheme for the protection of tenancy deposits; TDS offers both Insured and Custodial protection and also provides fair adjudication for disputes that arise over the tenancy deposits that we protect.

Updated 15 November 2019 – John King