Tenancy Deposit Cap Calculator

What this deposit cap calculator does

When you rent a home in England on an assured shorthold tenancy, the law strictly limits how much a landlord or letting agent can take as a deposit. This calculator works out the maximum security deposit and the maximum holding deposit they can legally charge, based on the rent for the property.

The rules come from the Tenant Fees Act 2019, which has applied to all assured shorthold tenancies in England since 1 June 2020. Under the Act, the security deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent where the total annual rent is less than £50,000, and 6 weeks' rent where the annual rent is £50,000 or more. A separate holding deposit, taken to reserve a property while referencing is carried out, is capped at 1 week's rent.

This tool is for tenants who want to check they are not being overcharged, and for landlords and agents who need to stay compliant. Charging more than the legal cap can mean repaying the excess and a financial penalty, so it pays to get the figure exactly right before money changes hands.

How it works

The calculation is based on weekly rent, even if you pay monthly:

1. Find the annual rent. Monthly rent × 12, or weekly rent × 52.
2. Find the weekly rent for the cap. Annual rent ÷ 52. (Note this is not simply your monthly rent ÷ 4 — the legal method always divides the annual figure by 52.)
3. Apply the multiplier. If annual rent is under £50,000, the cap is weekly rent × 5. If it is £50,000 or more, the cap is weekly rent × 6.
4. Holding deposit. Always weekly rent × 1.
5. Round down. Any fraction of a penny must be rounded down — never up.

Worked example

Suppose the rent is £1,000 per month:

• Annual rent = £1,000 × 12 = £12,000 (under £50,000, so the 5-week cap applies).
• Weekly rent = £12,000 ÷ 52 = £230.769…
• Maximum security deposit = £230.769 × 5 = £1,153.846… → rounded down = £1,153.84
• Maximum holding deposit = £230.769 × 1 → rounded down = £230.76

So a landlord could ask for up to £1,153.84 as a security deposit and up to £230.76 as a holding deposit — not a penny more.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum deposit a landlord can charge in the UK?

For most rentals in England the maximum security deposit is 5 weeks' rent, because annual rent is under £50,000. Where the annual rent is £50,000 or more, the cap rises to 6 weeks' rent. A holding deposit is separately capped at 1 week's rent.

How do I work out 5 weeks' rent from a monthly figure?

Multiply the monthly rent by 12 to get the annual rent, divide by 52 to get the weekly rent, then multiply by 5. For example, £1,000 per month is £12,000 a year, £230.77 a week, so 5 weeks is £1,153.84. Do not simply multiply monthly rent by 1.25.

Is a holding deposit on top of the security deposit?

A holding deposit (up to 1 week's rent) is paid to reserve a property while checks are done. If the tenancy goes ahead it is normally put towards your first rent or the security deposit, so it is not an extra charge on top of the cap. It must be repaid or applied within set time limits.

What happens if a landlord charges more than the deposit cap?

Charging above the cap is a prohibited payment under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. The excess is recoverable by the tenant, and landlords or agents can face financial penalties. Always check the figure with a calculator before paying.

Source: GOV.UK — Tenant Fees Act 2019: guidance for tenants. Deposit caps verified June 2026; figures apply to England only.