Explain a rental deposit received from a tenant on mobile

This article describes how to use the FreeAgent mobile app to explain a refundable deposit paid into your bank account from a tenant if you have an unincorporated landlord account in FreeAgent.

Please note:

If you've returned a refundable deposit to one of your tenants, find out how to explain a rental deposit repaid to a tenant.

Explaining the money paid into your bank account

Tap the ‘Banking’ icon.

Overview screen with Banking icon highlighted

Choose the relevant bank account from the list and select the transaction that relates to the rental deposit.

List of bank transactions with unexplained transaction highlighted

Select ‘Rental deposits in’ from the transaction ‘Explained as’ drop-down menu and select ‘Rental Deposits Received’ from the ‘Category’ drop-down menu.

Bank transaction being explained as rental deposits in and rental deposits received as the category

Select ‘Explain transaction’ or ‘Save’ to complete the process.

Paying the deposit into a Tenancy Deposit Scheme

You may need to pay the tenant’s deposit into a Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which will hold the deposit for the duration of the tenancy. For more information on this process, please see HMRC’s guidance. If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, please ask your accountant or HMRC.

When the money is paid out of your business bank account into a Tenancy Deposit Scheme, select ‘Rental deposits out’ from the ‘Explained as’ drop-down menu and ‘Repayment under Rental Deposit Scheme’ from the ‘Category’ drop-down menu.

Bank transaction being explained as rental deposits out and repayment under rental deposit scheme.

Select ‘Explain transaction’ or ‘Save’ to complete the process. Find out more about how to explain bank transactions on the FreeAgent mobile app.

Next steps?

Once the tenancy ends and you need to pay the deposit back to the tenant, find out how to explain a rental deposit repaid to a tenant.

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