The phrase “five weeks’ rent” often appears in discussions about tenancy deposits in England. It is a maximum under the Tenant Fees Act for certain tenancies, not a standard charge every landlord must take. The cap depends on annual rent, and the calculation begins with the rent for the property as a whole.
Find the weekly rent
If the rent is quoted monthly, multiply the monthly amount by 12 and divide by 52. For example, rent of £1,300 a month gives an annual rent of £15,600. Divide £15,600 by 52 to get weekly rent of £300. Five weeks at that rate is £1,500. If the agreed rent is already weekly, multiply it by five for a five-week cap. Use the rent stated in the agreement and keep the arithmetic visible. Small differences caused by rounding should be handled consistently.
Which cap applies?
For an England tenancy covered by the Tenant Fees Act, a tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent when annual rent is below £50,000. Where annual rent is £50,000 or more, the cap is six weeks’ rent, provided the annual rent does not exceed £100,000. The Act does not cover properties with annual rent above £100,000, so do not assume this particular cap answers every deposit question for those properties. Other rules may still matter. Check current guidance for the tenancy type and circumstances.
A tenancy deposit is different from a holding deposit. A holding deposit can be used to reserve a property while pre-tenancy checks are completed; under the Act its maximum is one week’s rent. It is not an extra week automatically added to the tenancy-deposit cap. The rules specify how a holding deposit can be returned, retained or applied, so landlords and tenants should check the circumstances before treating it as forfeited or credited.
The Tenant Fees Act applies in England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. Joint tenants should check whether the agreement treats the deposit as one sum for the property or separates room agreements. A tenant should receive clear written information about the amount, what it secures and how it is protected. The landlord or agent should follow the applicable deposit-protection requirements.
This guide explains the arithmetic and broad England caps only. It does not determine whether a particular payment is lawful or what a tenancy agreement means. Check the current GOV.UK guidance and the agreement, and seek independent housing advice if the figures or circumstances are disputed.