Tenancy deposit schemes: DPS, mydeposits and TDS explained

The main authorised schemes in England and Wales are the Deposit Protection Service, mydeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. They protect the deposit and provide a dispute route, but the landlord or agent must still comply with the statutory deadline and information duties.

Custodial and insured are different

In a custodial scheme, the scheme holds the deposit. In an insured scheme, the landlord or agent holds it while paying for the scheme's protection. The end-of-tenancy steps and dispute timetable differ, so identify the scheme and protection type from the certificate rather than guessing from the brand name.

At the start of the tenancy

The landlord or agent must use an authorised scheme where the statutory regime applies, meet the 30-day protection deadline and provide the required information. Save the certificate, scheme terms and the actual information received; do not rely on a link that later changes.

At the end of the tenancy

• Agree the proposed deductions or explain each disagreement.
• Use the scheme's repayment or dispute process, not informal pressure alone.
• Provide check-in, check-out, rent and damage evidence in the format requested.
• Keep the scheme reference and every submission.
• Separate an ordinary deposit-dispute issue from a possible statutory protection breach.

Choosing a scheme as a landlord

The landlord or agent should compare the current authorised scheme terms, fees, insured obligations and dispute process, then keep the chosen scheme record with the tenancy file. Scheme membership does not remove the need to comply with the underlying legislation.