Calculator

Tenancy deposit calculator

Work out the most a landlord or letting agent in England can ask for as a tenancy deposit and a holding deposit, under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.

£1,384.61Maximum tenancy deposit

£276.92Maximum holding deposit

Yearly rent	£14,400.00
One week’s rent (yearly rent ÷ 52)	£276.92
Deposit cap (5 weeks’ rent)	£1,384.61
Holding deposit cap (1 week’s rent)	£276.92

Rates checked 24 October 2026 against the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and GOV.UK guidance. For guidance only, not tax or legal advice.

Deposit caps in England

Yearly rent	Tenancy deposit cap	Holding deposit cap
Under £50,000	5 weeks’ rent	1 week’s rent
£50,000 or more	6 weeks’ rent	1 week’s rent

One week’s rent is the yearly rent divided by 52, as the Act sets out. The caps don’t apply where the rent is over £100,000 a year.

Example. Rent of £1,200 a month is £14,400 a year, or £276.92 a week. The deposit can be up to 5 × £276.92 = £1,384.61, and the holding deposit up to £276.92.

Protecting the deposit

A landlord or agent who takes a deposit must protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give the tenant the prescribed information. If they don’t, the tenant can claim compensation of between 1 and 3 times the deposit.

Holding deposits

A holding deposit reserves a property while checks are done. Normally the landlord must then agree the tenancy within 15 days (the “deadline for agreement”) unless both sides agree a different date in writing. The holding deposit must be refunded, or put towards the first rent or deposit, within 7 days of agreeing the tenancy. The landlord can keep it only in limited cases, such as false or misleading information from the tenant.

Rent in advance since 1 May 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 changed the rules for assured tenancies in England from 1 May 2026. A landlord or agent can’t ask for rent before the tenancy agreement is signed. After signing and before the tenancy starts, they can ask for no more than the first month’s rent. The deposit and holding deposit caps did not change.

Wales and Scotland

This calculator is for England. In Wales, the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019 caps a holding deposit at one week’s rent, but there is currently no cap on the security deposit. Scotland has separate rules.

Tenancy deposit calculator questions

How much deposit can a landlord ask for?

In England, up to 5 weeks’ rent if the yearly rent is under £50,000, and up to 6 weeks’ rent if it is £50,000 or more.

How do I work out a week’s rent?

Multiply the monthly rent by 12 and divide by 52. For £1,000 a month that is £230.76 (rounded down).

What happens if the deposit is over the cap?

Asking for a deposit above the cap is a prohibited payment under the Tenant Fees Act. The landlord or agent must refund the excess, and Trading Standards can fine them.

How much is a holding deposit?

No more than 1 week’s rent. It must be refunded or put towards the rent or deposit once the tenancy is agreed.

Can a landlord ask for several months’ rent in advance?

Not for new assured tenancies in England since 1 May 2026. Rent can’t be taken before the agreement is signed, and between signing and the start date the landlord can ask for no more than the first month’s rent.

Does this apply to lodgers or company lets?

The caps apply to most private tenancies, student lets and licences to occupy housing in England. They don’t apply to lodgers living with the landlord, to company lets or where the rent is over £100,000 a year.

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