Your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of your landlord receiving it. This is a legal requirement, not optional. Your landlord must also provide you with prescribed information explaining how the scheme works and your rights.
If your landlord fails to protect your deposit or fails to provide prescribed information, you can claim compensation of up to 3 times the deposit amount. This is automatic - you don\'t need to prove any loss or damage. It\'s a strict liability.
At the end of your tenancy, your landlord has 30 days to return your deposit or provide an itemized breakdown of any deductions. Deductions can only be made for damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, or other breaches of the tenancy agreement.