Landlords are being warned that they have just a matter of days to protect tenancy deposits, or face thousands in fines.

The new Deregulation Act means more tenancy deposits are now under deposit protection law if received before 6 April 2007, and gives landlords until only 23 June to register them in a government approved scheme. Otherwise they face a penalty of between one and three times the value of the deposit and restrictions on regaining possession of their property.