The foundation
What deposit protection is designed to clarify.
Deposit protection connects a tenancy deposit with a recognised protection route and related information. The rules and documents that apply can depend on the tenancy and circumstances, so this guide is an orientation—not a legal conclusion.
Records to look for
- Tenancy agreement and deposit payment record
- Scheme certificate or protection confirmation
- Deposit-related information provided after payment
- Emails, messages or portal records from the landlord or agent
Dates to keep together
- Tenancy start and end dates
- Date the deposit was paid
- Protection or registration date
- Dates on related correspondence
When the picture is incomplete
Missing paperwork is a reason to investigate, not a final answer.
The information and records available will affect what can be assessed. Missing a document does not, by itself, determine the outcome.
Search the places you normally keep tenancy records, note what you can and cannot find, and keep partial records rather than discarding them.
A practical route