Scottish deposit timing is measured from the tenancy beginning using working days. A calendar-month reminder or a later agent receipt date can produce the wrong deadline.
Verify the dates
- Confirm when the tenancy began and what deposit was received.
- Calculate the applicable 30 working days correctly.
- Search agent and scheme records before concluding the deposit was never lodged.
Correct the position
- Follow the scheme process and supply the required information.
- Keep the actual protection and provision dates.
- Record the reason for the failure and the steps taken to prevent recurrence.
Prepare for a dispute
- Obtain advice on the tenant's tribunal rights and the facts of the failure.
- Preserve all correspondence and avoid unsupported assurances that no remedy remains.
- Keep any later deposit deduction separate from the protection issue.
Example: an agent uses 30 calendar days
A fictional agent sets the wrong reminder method. Recalculate the actual Scottish deadline from the tenancy start and verify the result. The correction should fix the process for every Scottish deposit, not just this record.
What to do
- Establish the tenancy start and deposit history.
- Check the approved scheme and information provision.
- Correct outstanding steps and obtain advice on consequences.
Evidence to keep
- Tenancy start, receipt, working-day calculation and scheme record.
- Information supplied, correction dates and relevant correspondence.
Sources and guidance
- Taking a deposit as a private landlordScottish Government · checked 20 October 2026
- When you must protect a tenancy depositScottish Government · checked 20 October 2026