Deposit Prescribed Information in England: Landlord Checklist

What is deposit prescribed information?

Prescribed information is the information a landlord must give about a covered tenancy deposit, its protection and the relevant procedures. Protecting the money and providing the required information are separate duties. A scheme confirmation should not be treated as proof that the complete information pack reached the required recipients.

This guide is for covered private assured tenancies in England. Start with your approved scheme's current documents and the official requirements, then keep evidence of the completed pack and its delivery. LetClear supports England only.

What is the deadline and who needs the information?

Section 213 requires the information within 30 days beginning with the date the deposit is received, for the tenant and any relevant person. A relevant person is someone who paid the deposit on the tenant's behalf under arrangements with the tenant. Joint tenants and third-party payers need careful attention when preparing the recipient list. See section 213.

Use the deposit protection deadline calculator to organise a date for a supported scenario. It cannot classify an unusual payment or confirm valid delivery. If the deposit was paid in instalments, replaced or carried forward, establish the history before relying on a single receipt date.

What should the information pack cover?

Use the complete official requirements and your scheme's current pack. The government summary covers:

• the property and deposit amount;
• how the deposit is protected and the scheme's contact details;
• the landlord or agent and relevant third-party payer details;
• the circumstances in which money may be retained;
• how the deposit can be returned;
• what happens if a party cannot be contacted; and
• the dispute process and available resolution service.

The prescribed-information Order also addresses scheme leaflet information, tenancy and contact details, and a signed accuracy confirmation with an opportunity for the tenant to sign. It contains provisions for agents acting on a landlord's behalf. Check the current scheme process and legal requirements rather than improvising a shortened version.

This checklist is a preparation aid. It is not a substitute prescribed-information form or a declaration that a pack is complete.

Is a deposit certificate the same as prescribed information?

Do not decide from the document's name. A registration certificate may confirm that money is protected while other required information appears in a separate form or leaflet. Some scheme packs combine documents. Check what your actual pack contains and which version you supplied.

Keep three questions separate:

1. Was the deposit protected, and when?
2. Was the information pack complete and accurate for this tenancy?
3. What evidence shows it was given to every required recipient, and when?

One “deposit done” tick hides those differences. For example, you could have a timely protection record but no evidence of the leaflet or completed information form being sent. That is a gap to investigate, not a reason to invent an earlier delivery date.

A practical preparation and delivery record

Create one folder or record for the tenancy. Save the scheme confirmation, completed information pack, relevant leaflet and evidence of delivery. Note any unanswered question separately from the files you already hold.

The editable checklist is free and needs no account. It is a working record, not the prescribed information itself. Keep personal documents securely and avoid including unnecessary identity details in shared notes.

Worked example: the certificate is there, but the email is incomplete

Imagine that your agent sends you a scheme certificate and a forwarded email addressed to one tenant. The email refers to attachments, but they are missing from the forward.

Save what you have. Ask for the exact attachments, the complete recipient record and the original sending details. Check whether someone paid on a tenant's behalf. Until those questions are answered, record the protection evidence separately from the uncertain information delivery.

If the missing evidence cannot be found, seek advice about the actual position and next steps. Sending documents now does not prove that the earlier duty was met on time.

What if the information was late, incomplete or sent to the wrong person?

Preserve the actual history, obtain the correct current documents and address what remains missing. Do not backdate a signature, protection record or delivery date. Use the late deposit protection guide for the wider issue and obtain advice about unresolved legal consequences.

Information delivery does not by itself determine possession eligibility or notice validity. Keep any proposed possession action separate from the question of what happened to the deposit records.

Common questions

Can my agent provide the information?

An agent may act on your behalf, but establish who is doing what and keep the completed documents and delivery evidence. Do not rely only on a status label in an agent's portal.

Does a tenant's signature prove every requirement was met?

A signature is evidence to retain, not a substitute for checking the content, recipients, timing and process. The Order distinguishes the landlord's accuracy confirmation from giving the tenant an opportunity to sign. Get advice if signatures or delivery are disputed.

Is a holding deposit automatically covered by this deadline?

No. A holding deposit and a tenancy deposit are different payment types. Identify the payment and any later change in purpose before applying the rules. The government overview explains that distinction.

What can I do in ten minutes?

Find the scheme confirmation and the exact pack you believe was supplied. Note one missing item, such as the attachment or recipient record, and request it. The tenant documents guide helps connect this to the rest of the tenancy file.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Older arrangements, changes of tenant or landlord, unusual payments and disputes may need individual advice.