Prescribed Information: what your landlord must give you

The required information

• Name, address and contact details of the deposit scheme and its administrator.
• The scheme's leaflet explaining how it works.
• The procedure for applying for release of the deposit at the end of the tenancy.
• What happens if either party is uncontactable at the end of the tenancy.
• How disputes are resolved and the alternative dispute resolution service.
• The amount of the deposit and address of the property.
• Name, address and contact details of the landlord (and agent, if any) and the tenant(s).
• Circumstances in which deductions may be made from the deposit.
• A signed certificate from the landlord confirming the information is accurate and that the tenant has had the opportunity to sign it.

Missing or incomplete information

Courts have held that significant omissions mean the Prescribed Information has not been properly served. Simply forwarding a scheme certificate is usually not enough.

Since the Deregulation Act 2015, Prescribed Information served for an original tenancy can count for later renewals if the details have not changed — but it must have been served correctly in the first place.