Checking your deposit
What Is A Deposit Protection Certificate?
It is a document from the deposit scheme confirming your deposit was registered. It is not the full prescribed information your landlord must give you.
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In Short
A deposit protection certificate is a document from DPS, TDS or mydeposits confirming that your landlord registered your deposit with the scheme. It is not the same as the prescribed information your landlord must give you within 30 days, and handing over the scheme certificate alone is not enough to meet that duty. If you were given only a certificate, you may still be able to claim 1x to 3x the deposit.
What A Certificate Looks Like
It names the scheme, the property, the landlord, any agent and the tenants. It shows the deposit amount, the tenancy dates, when it was registered and a certificate code.
Details To Check On Yours
- The property address is right
- Every tenant's name is listed
- The deposit amount matches what you paid
- The protection date: within 30 days of you paying?
- A certificate or reference code you can search with
Certificate Or Prescribed Information?
- Issued by the scheme to your landlord
- Confirms the deposit is registered
- Usually shows when it was registered
- The law does not require you get it
- Required by law within 30 days
- Scheme details, like how disputes are settled
- Your tenancy details and when money can be kept
- A certificate signed by your landlord
Lost Yours? How To Get A Copy
- Ask Your Landlord Or AgentAsk in writing for the certificate and the full prescribed information. Keep a copy.
- Search Your EmailsSchemes may email tenants when a deposit is protected. Search for DPS, TDS or mydeposits.
- Search The SchemesUse your postcode, surname, tenancy start date and deposit amount.
- Contact The SchemeIt can confirm whether it holds your deposit. Some schemes let tenants view it online.
What To Do Next
Compare the date you paid with the date it was protected. More than 30 days apart may mean it was late. Read the prescribed information checklist and deposit protected late, or take our deposit check.
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With Free Deposit Check- Full online deposit check and analysis
- All three deposit schemes searched for you
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- Your whole case file prepared
- Matched with our specialist solicitors
- £387 court fee covered in your agreement
- With you at every step
- £0 up front and £0 if you lose (terms apply)
- Search each scheme yourself
- Work out if you qualify
- Gather and organise all the evidence
- Write the letter to your landlord
- Pay the £387 court fee up front (Help with Fees may cut it)
- Present your case to the court
- Chase your landlord for payment
- All the risk and work is on you
If you win, the solicitor's success fee (up to 25% + VAT) comes out of your compensation. The solicitor pays us for the introduction, so you never pay us anything.
Quick Answers
What Is A Deposit Protection Certificate?
A document from DPS, TDS or mydeposits confirming your landlord or agent registered your deposit with that scheme. It usually shows the property, the tenants, the amount and key dates.
Is The Certificate The Same As Prescribed Information?
No. Prescribed information is a fuller set of details your landlord must give within 30 days, including a certificate signed by them. The scheme certificate alone is not enough.
I Have A Certificate. Can I Still Claim?
You may be able to. If the deposit was protected late, or the full prescribed information was not given within 30 days, the rules may still have been broken.
How Do I Get A Copy Of My Certificate?
Ask your landlord or agent in writing. You can also search the scheme websites or contact the scheme, which can confirm whether it holds your deposit.
Can A Certificate Be Fake?
It can happen. The DPS warns tenants about fake or edited certificates. If in doubt, search the scheme's website yourself or call the scheme directly.
Keep Reading
Sources
- Housing Act 2004, section 213 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Housing Act 2004, section 214 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007, article 2 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Tenancy deposit protection: prescribed information, legal guide (Shelter)
- Tenancy deposit protection rules, legal guide (Shelter)
- Deposit protection rules (Shelter)
- Tenancy deposit protection (GOV.UK)
- Avoiding fraud (Deposit Protection Service)
- Is your deposit protected? (mydeposits)
Last updated 16 October 2026. General information for tenants in England only (the rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Not legal advice.