A Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) is a UK government-backed scheme that provides financial protection to tenants who pay a deposit when they rent a property. The scheme ensures that the tenant’s deposit is secure and that they will be able to reclaim any money due to them at the end of their tenancy. The scheme covers deposits of up to £25,000, and is available for all assured shorthold tenancies in England and Wales. It is the landlord or letting agent’s responsibility to register the deposit with a DGS, which will hold the money on behalf of the tenant. The scheme is designed to help protect tenants from unscrupulous landlords and letting agents, who may try to withhold all or part of a deposit unfairly, and to provide a fair and transparent process for resolving any disputes over the return of a deposit.