Tenancy deposit
What it really means
Money (capped at five weeks' rent for most tenancies in England) that the landlord holds in case of damage or unpaid rent. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme, and you get it back at the end if all is well. Details on GOV.UK.
Context, tips & common mistakes
The five-week cap applies in England where the yearly rent is under £50,000; above that it rises to six weeks. Alongside protecting the money within 30 days, the landlord must send you 'prescribed information' naming the scheme — if they fail to do either, tribunals can order them to pay you back up to three times the deposit. Newcomers most often go wrong by paying in cash without a receipt, or by skipping day-one photographs of every room, both of which make deductions much harder to challenge a year later. Ask which of the three approved schemes holds your money and keep the certificate with your contract. Scotland requires protection in its own approved schemes and Northern Ireland runs a separate system, so do not assume English rules travel with you.