The UK rental deposit has become one of the biggest financial barriers to moving. Before you can sign a lease, you need a lump sum that most people simply don't have sitting ready — particularly when the previous tenancy deposit hasn't yet been returned.
Deposit Share is a product that changes that equation. Instead of paying the full deposit yourself, you pay a significantly smaller fee — and the remainder is covered on your behalf. The landlord still receives the full, legally protected deposit. You get to move in.
The deposit problem in numbers
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, deposits are capped at five weeks' rent. But five weeks of rent across most UK cities is still a substantial sum — and it's only part of the total upfront cost of a typical move:
| Monthly rent | 5-week deposit | First month's rent | Total upfront |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000/month | £1,154 | £1,000 | ~£2,154 |
| £1,300/month | £1,500 | £1,300 | ~£2,800 |
| £1,500/month | £1,731 | £1,500 | ~£3,231 |
| £2,000/month | £2,308 | £2,000 | ~£4,308 |
| £2,294/month (London average) | £2,647 | £2,294 | ~£4,941 |
Source: ONS Private rent and house prices, UK: June 2026. Totals exclude the holding deposit (up to 1 additional week's rent) that some landlords charge when reserving a property.
How Deposit Share works
Deposit Share replaces the traditional model where the tenant must pay the entire deposit from their own savings. Here's what happens instead:
- You agree a tenancy with your landlord in the normal way
- Instead of paying the full deposit yourself, Deposit Share covers up to 85% of the required deposit on day one
- The landlord receives the full deposit — protected in a government-approved scheme as normal
- You pay a smaller fee, rather than the full lump sum
- The landlord's legal position and protections are identical to a standard deposit
Is the landlord fully protected?
Yes — completely. The landlord receives the full deposit amount, registered in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme (DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS) as they would for any tenancy. They can make deductions at the end of the tenancy through the same process. Nothing changes for the landlord.
Who Deposit Share is designed for
Deposit Share is particularly useful in situations where you can genuinely afford the rent — the monthly payments aren't the issue — but the upfront lump sum is the barrier:
- First-time private renters who haven't yet built up a deposit from a previous tenancy
- Tenants moving quickly — new job, study intake, relationship change — who haven't had time to save
- People waiting on a previous deposit return that hasn't cleared yet
- Renters whose savings are tied up elsewhere and who don't want to liquidate to cover a deposit
- Anyone facing the 'deposit gap' — where the rent is affordable but the lump sum upfront is the obstacle
Deposit Share vs. saving yourself
| Saving the full deposit | Using Deposit Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to move | Months or longer | Immediate |
| Upfront cost | Full 5 weeks' rent | Significantly reduced fee |
| Landlord protection | Full | Full |
| Suitable for urgent moves | Rarely | Yes |
| Works while previous deposit is pending | No | Yes |
What it isn't
Deposit Share is not a loan. You are not borrowing money and paying interest on a deposit. It is a financial product that covers a share of the required deposit in exchange for a fee. The landlord is not asked to accept less protection — they receive everything they would under a conventional tenancy.
It is also not a guarantee that you'll pass referencing or be approved for a particular tenancy. Landlords still run their standard checks. Deposit Share changes the upfront cost, not the referencing criteria.
How to access Deposit Share
Register with Proper Rent and tell us your situation. An agent will confirm whether Deposit Share applies to your tenancy and what the fee looks like for your specific property. Not every tenancy will qualify, but for those that do, it can make the difference between moving next month and waiting another six.