Residential Tenancy Deposit Protection, Prescribed Information and Compliance Documents for Landlords and Letting Agents in Wales
Under The Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Holding Deposit) (Specified Information) (Wales) Regulations 2019, letting agents in Wales are required to provide certain information and documentation to prospective contract-holders prior to collecting a holding deposit to secure an occupation contract.
Failure to comply with these requirements may affect a landlord’s ability to serve valid notices and may expose them to financial penalties.
About These Documents
This section provides practical templates and compliance guidance for landlords and letting agents operating in Wales in relation to tenancy deposit protection and management.
These templates help landlords and letting agents in Wales to:
- Document any holding deposits legally, and provide information to prospective contract holders about the same
- Formally record and receipt any deposits paid
- Ensure deposits are correctly protected within required time limits
- Provide accurate Prescribed Information to contract-holders
- Reduce risk of legal disputes and enforcement action
- Manage deposit deductions fairly and lawfully; and
- Support dispute resolution through authorised deposit schemes
The documents are written in clear, plain English. Where legal terminology is required, explanatory guidance is included for clarity and usability.
All templates are provided in Word format and can be customised for individual property management needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How and when must I protect a deposit in Wales? +
Protect any security deposit in a government authorised deposit scheme and serve the contract-holder with the prescribed information within 30 days of receiving it. The schemes cover England and Wales. If you do not protect the deposit or give the prescribed information, you cannot serve a valid section 173 no-fault notice and the contract-holder can seek a penalty. Use the deposit templates to record protection and serve the prescribed information on time.
What is a holding deposit and what are the rules in Wales? +
A holding deposit reserves a property while you check an applicant. In Wales it cannot exceed one week's rent under the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019, and you must give the applicant the specified information before taking it. If the contract goes ahead the holding deposit is normally credited to the first rent or deposit, and there are set rules and time limits for repaying it if things do not proceed. The holding deposit templates apply these rules.
What happens if I do not protect the deposit or serve the prescribed information? +
Two things follow. You lose the ability to serve a valid section 173 no-fault notice until you put it right, and the contract-holder can apply to the court for a penalty of up to three times the deposit. The deposit must also be returned. This makes deposit protection one of the easiest compliance points to get wrong and one of the most costly. Protect the deposit and serve the prescribed information promptly and keep the evidence.
Can I make deductions from the deposit at the end of the contract? +
Only for genuine breaches such as unpaid rent, damage beyond fair wear and tear or cleaning left undone, and you must be able to evidence each deduction. Your inventory and photographs are key. If the contract-holder disputes a deduction, the authorised scheme's free dispute resolution service decides it. Proposing fair, evidenced deductions and using the scheme avoids court and protects your position. The deposit templates help you set out deductions clearly.
