If you rent in England or Wales, your landlord or letting agent generally must protect your tenancy deposit in an approved scheme and give you the scheme details within 30 days. Check the paperwork, keep your payment receipt, and agree a detailed inventory with dated photos when you move in. The rules and deadlines differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check the relevant official government guidance and scheme website. If your deposit is not protected or there is a dispute, the scheme’s free resolution service may help; for formal legal advice, consider a solicitor regulated by the SRA.