Holding deposit agreement
2 templates
Free
Holding deposit agreement templates
England
Wales
Fillable PDF
Complete on screen or print and sign
A reservation only, not a tenancy
Checked October 2026
Choose your nation
Choose the template for your nation below. Each is a fillable PDF you can complete on screen or print and sign.
15
days
England
Holding Deposit Agreement
Use this when you take a holding deposit to reserve a property in England while references and checks are completed. It records the payment and when it will be refunded or kept. It is a reservation only: it does not create a tenancy.
15
days
Wales
Holding Deposit Agreement: Wales
Use this agreement when taking a holding deposit to reserve a dwelling in Wales under a proposed standard occupation contract, while references and other checks are completed. It records the required information, payment and circumstances in which the deposit may be repaid or retained. It does not create an occupation contract.
The rules in England
Holding deposits in England are governed by Schedule 2 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019, as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
Holding deposit cap
1 week
One week’s rent for the whole tenancy, however many tenants. Work it out as annual rent divided by 52.
Deadline for agreement
15 days
The 15th day, counting the day you receive the deposit as day one, unless you agree another date in writing.
Refund
7 days
Within 7 days of the tenancy being signed, of you deciding not to go ahead, or of the deadline passing.
Written reasons
Within 7 days
If you keep any of it, tell the person who paid, in writing, within 7 days.
Advertised rent
No offers above
Since 1 May 2026 you cannot invite or accept offers above the advertised rent, and no rent can be taken before the agreement is signed.
Any payment the Act doesn’t permit is a prohibited payment and must be refunded. Our guide to the Tenant Fees Act explains what you can charge.
The rules in Wales
In Wales, holding deposits for a proposed standard occupation contract fall under Schedule 2 of the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019.
Specified information first
13 items
Before taking the deposit, give the prospective contract-holder 13 items in writing, including the rent, rental period, contract length, security deposit, guarantor requirements and the checks you will carry out.
Cap
One week's rent
One week's value of rent.
Deadline for agreement
15 days
The 15th day, counting the day the deposit is paid as day one.
Refund
Within 7 days
Within 7 days of the contract being made or the deadline passing.
If you don’t give the specified information before payment, you generally cannot keep the deposit when the applicant withdraws or fails to take reasonable steps. The Welsh template collects all 13 items in its first three sections, so you can hand those over before taking payment.
When you can keep a holding deposit
You can keep it only in limited circumstances:
False or misleading information: the applicant gave information relevant to their suitability that you could reasonably rely on. Minor mistakes don’t count.
Right to rent (England only): you are legally unable to let to the applicant, and neither you nor your agent knew before taking the deposit. See our guide to right to rent checks.
The applicant pulls out before the deadline.
The applicant doesn’t take reasonable steps to agree the tenancy, despite you doing so.
In England you must still refund it if you or your agent asked for a banned payment, or behaved in a way that made it unreasonable for the applicant to go ahead.
What happens if the tenancy goes ahead
With the tenant’s agreement, the holding deposit can be credited to the first rent payment or to the tenancy deposit. If it goes to the tenancy deposit, it is treated as received on the date of the tenancy agreement and must be protected within 30 days of that date. You then give the deposit prescribed information. Our article on the difference between a tenancy deposit and a holding deposit covers the two side by side.
What's in the template
Both templates record the property, the agreed rent, the holding deposit and the people involved. They set the deadline for agreement, with a place to record any agreed extension, and list exactly when the deposit is refunded and when it can be kept. Both end with signatures from the landlord and every applicant. Use them alongside our landlord reference form and employer reference form while you check the applicant.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
We don’t offer a holding deposit template for either nation. In Scotland, payments beyond rent and a refundable deposit can be an illegal premium, so take advice before taking one. Northern Ireland has no specific holding deposit rules, so there is no statutory framework for a template to follow.
Frequently asked questions
Is a holding redeposit refundable?
Yes, in most cases. It must be refunded within 7 days unless the applicant gave misleading information, pulled out, failed to take reasonable steps, or (in England) failed a right to rent check you couldn’t have known about. See our definition of a holding deposit.
How much can a holding deposit be?
No more than one week’s rent, calculated as annual rent divided by 52. In England the cap applies to the whole tenancy, not per tenant.
Can I take a holding deposit and the security deposit at the same time?
In England you can take a security deposit before the tenancy agreement is signed, subject to the cap and protection rules. You cannot take any rent until the agreement is signed by both parties.
Does a holding deposit need to be protected?
No, not while it is a holding deposit. It needs protecting only once it is credited to the tenancy deposit.
Templates checked against legislation in October 2026. They are provided for general information and are not legal advice.
