UK Tenancy Deposit Calculator
Updated June 2026 · Tenant Fees Act 2019
Quick answer
In England and Wales a landlord can legally charge a maximum of five weeks' rent as a tenancy deposit where the annual rent is under £50,000, or six weeks' rent where annual rent is £50,000 or more (Tenant Fees Act 2019). A holding deposit is capped at one week's rent. In Scotland the deposit cannot exceed two months' rent and holding fees are banned. Enter your monthly rent below to see your exact figures.
Deposit cap calculator
Maximum security deposit
£1,384.62
(5 weeks of rent)
Maximum holding deposit
£276.92
(1 week of rent)
Weekly rent: £276.92 · Annual rent: £14,400
England & Wales: annual rent is under £50,000, so the deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent.
Weekly rent is calculated as (monthly rent × 12) ÷ 52, the method used in the Tenant Fees Act 2019. This tool is general information, not legal advice. If a landlord or agent asks for more than the cap, the excess is a prohibited payment and must be refunded.
How the deposit cap works
The deposit is usually the largest single sum you pay when moving in, so the law puts a hard ceiling on it. Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force, a landlord or letting agent in England cannot take a security deposit larger than five weeks' rent for most tenancies. The same five/six-week structure applies in Wales under the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019.
The calculator converts your monthly rent to a weekly figure exactly as the statute requires — multiply by 12, then divide by 52 — and multiplies that by the right number of weeks. It also shows the one-week holding-deposit ceiling, the smaller payment that reserves a property while you are referenced. A deposit above the cap is a prohibited payment: the landlord must refund the excess, and cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice while still holding it.
Wherever you rent, the deposit should be protected. In England, Wales and Scotland the landlord must place it in a government-approved deposit scheme within 30 days and give you the scheme details. In less regulated markets, paying through an escrow or verified-landlord platform gives you similar protection.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit can a landlord legally charge in the UK?
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, in England and Wales a landlord can charge a maximum of five weeks' rent as a deposit where the total annual rent is below £50,000, or six weeks' rent where annual rent is £50,000 or more. In Scotland the deposit cannot exceed two months' rent. Anything above the cap is a prohibited payment and must be refunded.
How do I work out five weeks of rent from a monthly rent?
Multiply the monthly rent by 12 to get the annual rent, divide by 52 to get the weekly rent, then multiply by five. For example, £1,200 a month is £14,400 a year, which is £276.92 a week, so the five-week deposit cap is £1,384.62.
What is the maximum holding deposit?
In England and Wales a holding deposit is capped at one week's rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. It reserves the property while referencing is completed and is normally put towards the first rent or the deposit. In Scotland charging any holding fee or premium is illegal.
When does the six-week deposit cap apply instead of five weeks?
The six-week cap applies only when the total annual rent is £50,000 or more (about £4,167 per month). For the vast majority of tenancies, where annual rent is under £50,000, the cap is five weeks' rent.
What can I do if my landlord asks for more than the legal deposit?
A deposit above the legal cap is a "prohibited payment". You can ask the landlord or agent to refund the excess, and if they refuse you can report them to your local trading standards authority or apply to the First-tier Tribunal. Your tenancy is also affected: a landlord cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice while holding an unlawful payment.
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