Deposit cap calculator: the most you can take, to the penny
Enter the rent and this tool applies the Tenant Fees Act 2019 cap: five weeks of rent where the annual rent is under £50,000, six weeks where it is £50,000 or more. The same cap applies to lodger licences.
Weekly rent is calculated as the annual rent divided by 52. General information, not legal advice.
How the cap works
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps a tenancy deposit at five weeks of rent for the vast majority of tenancies, rising to six weeks only where the annual rent is £50,000 or more. A weekly figure is derived from the annual rent, so a monthly rent is multiplied by 12 and divided by 52 before the cap is applied. Taking more than the cap is a breach with financial penalties, and the deposit must then be protected in an authorised scheme within 30 days with the prescribed information served: the deposit protection guide covers that step by step. A holding deposit is capped separately at one week of rent. For what can be deducted at the end, see deposit deductions and deposit disputes.
Common questions
What is the maximum tenancy deposit in England?
Five weeks of rent where the annual rent is under £50,000, six weeks where it is £50,000 or more, under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
Does the deposit cap apply to lodgers?
Yes. The Tenant Fees Act applies to lodger licences, so the same five week cap applies to a lodger's deposit.
How is a week of rent calculated?
Annual rent divided by 52. For a monthly rent, multiply by 12 first.
What is the holding deposit limit?
One week of rent, capped separately from the tenancy deposit.
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What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary grounds?
A mandatory ground proved compels the court to order possession; a discretionary ground adds a reasonableness test the court decides on the circumstances.
What replaced the AST in 2026?
The assured periodic tenancy: open-ended, monthly, with possession only on Section 8 grounds and rent increases only via Section 13.