In England and Wales, most deposits for assured shorthold tenancies must be protected in a government-approved scheme, such as DPS, MyDeposits or TDS, within 30 days of receipt. Your landlord should also provide prescribed information explaining where the deposit is held and how disputes are handled; being new to the UK does not remove these protections. Scotland has a separate system, while Northern Ireland has different rules, so check the relevant official guidance on GOV.UK or your devolved government’s website. If your deposit is not protected or there is a dispute, consider getting advice from Citizens Advice or a solicitor regulated by the SRA.