Free tool · England
Tenancy deposit cap calculator
Enter the rent to see the most you can take as a tenancy deposit and a holding deposit under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
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Enter the rent to see the maximum deposit.
Protect the deposit within 30 days
How the deposit cap works
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps the tenancy deposit you can ask for at a number of weeks’ rent. The number of weeks depends on the annual rent:
| Annual rent | Maximum tenancy deposit | Maximum holding deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Below £50,000 | 5 weeks’ rent | 1 week’s rent |
| £50,000 or more | 6 weeks’ rent | 1 week’s rent |
Work out weekly rent from the annual rent: annual rent ÷ 52, rounded down to the penny. For monthly rent, that’s monthly rent × 12 ÷ 52.
Worked examples
| Rent | Annual rent | Weekly rent | Cap | Maximum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £600 a month | £7,200 | £138.46 | 5 weeks | £692.30 |
| £950 a month | £11,400 | £219.23 | 5 weeks | £1,096.15 |
| £1,200 a month | £14,400 | £276.92 | 5 weeks | £1,384.60 |
| £2,500 a month | £30,000 | £576.92 | 5 weeks | £2,884.60 |
| £4,200 a month | £50,400 | £969.23 | 6 weeks | £5,815.38 |
| £250 a week | £13,000 | £250.00 | 5 weeks | £1,250.00 |
The maximum holding deposit is one week’s rent: £219.23 for a £950-a-month tenancy.
Weekly rent for every rent frequency
Convert the rent to an annual figure first, then divide by 52. The calculator does this for weekly, monthly and yearly rent.
| Rent is paid | Annual rent | Weekly rent |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Rent × 52 | The weekly rent |
| Fortnightly | Rent × 26 | Rent ÷ 2 |
| Every four weeks | Rent × 13 | Rent ÷ 4 |
| Monthly | Rent × 12 | Rent × 12 ÷ 52 |
| Yearly | The yearly rent | Rent ÷ 52 |
Example: rent of £1,000 every four weeks is £13,000 a year (£1,000 × 13). Weekly rent is £13,000 ÷ 52 = £250, so the maximum tenancy deposit is £1,250 and the maximum holding deposit is £250.
Holding deposits
A holding deposit reserves the property while you carry out checks. It is capped at one week’s rent, worked out the same way as above. For a tenancy at £1,200 a month, the maximum holding deposit is £276.92. Keep a written record of what the holding deposit was for and what happens to it when the tenancy starts.
Common mistakes
- Treating a month as four weeks. £950 ÷ 4 = £237.50, which overstates weekly rent. The correct figure is £219.23.
- Rounding up. Always round the weekly figure down to the penny before multiplying.
- Forgetting the threshold. At £4,167 a month or more, the annual rent reaches £50,000 and the six-week cap applies.
After you take the deposit
You must protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme and give the tenant the prescribed information within 30 days of receiving it. Our deposit prescribed information document fills in the details for you, and the calculator above can email you a reminder before the deadline. For a new tenancy, the compliance pack bundles it with the written statement and safety record. Read more in our guide to deposit protection deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deposit cap?
Five weeks’ rent if the annual rent is below £50,000, or six weeks’ rent if it is £50,000 or more.
How is weekly rent worked out?
Annual rent divided by 52. For monthly rent, that is the monthly rent × 12 ÷ 52.
What is the holding deposit cap?
One week’s rent.
When must I protect the deposit?
Within 30 days of receiving it, in a government-approved scheme, and you must give the tenant the prescribed information in the same period.
Should I round the weekly rent up or down?
Down to the penny. Rounding up can take the deposit a few pence over the cap. For £950 a month, weekly rent is £219.23, not £219.24.
Is a month four weeks?
No. Multiplying monthly rent by 12 and dividing by 52 gives the true weekly figure. Treating a month as four weeks overstates weekly rent and can push the deposit over the cap.
What if the rent is exactly £50,000 a year?
The six-week cap applies when annual rent is £50,000 or more. Below £50,000, the cap is five weeks.