The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS), the UK’s largest custodial tenancy deposit scheme, has announced that it has facilitated the donation of more than £500,000 to homelessness charity St Mungo’s, marking a major milestone in its long-standing partnership with the organisation.
The six-figure contribution reflects a growing movement within the property sector to support social impact initiatives, particularly those addressing housing insecurity at a time when homelessness in the UK is reaching record levels.
St Mungo’s, one of the UK’s leading homelessness charities, provides safe, warm accommodation and tailored recovery support to people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness. The charity supported nearly 25,000 individuals in 2024 alone.
The donation has been made possible through The DPS’s interest donation scheme, where tenants are given the option to contribute interest accrued on their protected deposits at the end of their tenancy.
SAFEGUARDING DEPOSITS
The scheme has grown significantly alongside The DPS’s custodial portfolio, which safeguards millions of deposits across England and Wales.
Matt Trevett, Managing Director at The DPS, says: “We’re proud to partner with an organisation that does such vital, life-changing work.
“The donation is testament to the generosity of tenants and the scale of deposits we hold and protect.
“Together, we’re helping to make a real difference in communities across the UK.”
Laura Herring, Director of Fundraising and Communications at St Mungo’s, adds: “We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from The DPS.
“This partnership – and the incredible £500,000 raised – will allow us to reach even more people facing housing crisis, providing them with not just emergency accommodation, but also the long-term support needed to rebuild their lives.”
ACTIVE ROLE
Headquartered in Bristol, The DPS says the collaboration reflects its broader commitment to improving outcomes in the communities where it operates.
While the donations support national initiatives, the organisation has a particular focus on impact within the South West, where both the housing shortage and levels of rough sleeping have intensified in recent years.
The DPS added that the initiative aligns with growing calls across the property industry to play a more active role in addressing the structural drivers of homelessness, including affordability, access, and support services.
Trevett says: “At a time when the sector is under pressure to deliver housing solutions at scale, initiatives like this demonstrate how custodial schemes and the private rented sector more broadly can be part of the solution.”
The DPS has indicated that it plans to continue expanding the interest donation scheme, with further charitable partnerships potentially under consideration as part of its ESG strategy.
