diff --git a/synapse/handlers/auth.py b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
index 0ba66bc947..cfcb4ea2a0 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
@@ -665,22 +665,6 @@ class AuthHandler(BaseHandler):
             user_id, except_token_id=except_access_token_id,
         )
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def deactivate_account(self, user_id):
-        """Deactivate a user's account
-
-        Args:
-            user_id (str): ID of user to be deactivated
-
-        Returns:
-            Deferred
-        """
-        # FIXME: Theoretically there is a race here wherein user resets
-        # password using threepid.
-        yield self.delete_access_tokens_for_user(user_id)
-        yield self.store.user_delete_threepids(user_id)
-        yield self.store.user_set_password_hash(user_id, None)
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def delete_access_token(self, access_token):
         """Invalidate a single access token
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py b/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..70f02c9b76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2017 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from ._base import BaseHandler
+
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class DeactivateAccountHandler(BaseHandler):
+    """Handler which deals with deactivating user accounts."""
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        super(DeactivateAccountHandler, self).__init__(hs)
+        self._auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def deactivate_account(self, user_id):
+        """Deactivate a user's account
+
+        Args:
+            user_id (str): ID of user to be deactivated
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred
+        """
+        # FIXME: Theoretically there is a race here wherein user resets
+        # password using threepid.
+        yield self._auth_handler.delete_access_tokens_for_user(user_id)
+        yield self.store.user_delete_threepids(user_id)
+        yield self.store.user_set_password_hash(user_id, None)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
index 1197158fdc..a67e22790b 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ class DeactivateAccountRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     PATTERNS = client_path_patterns("/admin/deactivate/(?P<target_user_id>[^/]*)")
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
-        self._auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
         super(DeactivateAccountRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
+        self._deactivate_account_handler = hs.get_deactivate_account_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request, target_user_id):
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class DeactivateAccountRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if not is_admin:
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
-        yield self._auth_handler.deactivate_account(target_user_id)
+        yield self._deactivate_account_handler.deactivate_account(target_user_id)
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
index 726e0a2826..6202e8849d 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
@@ -161,10 +161,11 @@ class DeactivateAccountRestServlet(RestServlet):
     PATTERNS = client_v2_patterns("/account/deactivate$")
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
+        super(DeactivateAccountRestServlet, self).__init__()
         self.hs = hs
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
         self.auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
-        super(DeactivateAccountRestServlet, self).__init__()
+        self._deactivate_account_handler = hs.get_deactivate_account_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ class DeactivateAccountRestServlet(RestServlet):
 
         # allow ASes to dectivate their own users
         if requester and requester.app_service:
-            yield self.auth_handler.deactivate_account(
+            yield self._deactivate_account_handler.deactivate_account(
                 requester.user.to_string()
             )
             defer.returnValue((200, {}))
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ class DeactivateAccountRestServlet(RestServlet):
             logger.error("Auth succeeded but no known type!", result.keys())
             raise SynapseError(500, "", Codes.UNKNOWN)
 
-        yield self.auth_handler.deactivate_account(user_id)
+        yield self._deactivate_account_handler.deactivate_account(user_id)
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index 853f4647b7..fea19e68d1 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from synapse.federation.transaction_queue import TransactionQueue
 from synapse.handlers import Handlers
 from synapse.handlers.appservice import ApplicationServicesHandler
 from synapse.handlers.auth import AuthHandler, MacaroonGeneartor
+from synapse.handlers.deactivate_account import DeactivateAccountHandler
 from synapse.handlers.devicemessage import DeviceMessageHandler
 from synapse.handlers.device import DeviceHandler
 from synapse.handlers.e2e_keys import E2eKeysHandler
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ class HomeServer(object):
         'application_service_handler',
         'device_message_handler',
         'profile_handler',
+        'deactivate_account_handler',
         'notifier',
         'event_sources',
         'keyring',
@@ -268,6 +270,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def build_profile_handler(self):
         return ProfileHandler(self)
 
+    def build_deactivate_account_handler(self):
+        return DeactivateAccountHandler(self)
+
     def build_event_sources(self):
         return EventSources(self)
 
diff --git a/synapse/server.pyi b/synapse/server.pyi
index 3064a497eb..e1d0a71fd4 100644
--- a/synapse/server.pyi
+++ b/synapse/server.pyi
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@ import synapse.federation.transaction_queue
 import synapse.federation.transport.client
 import synapse.handlers
 import synapse.handlers.auth
+import synapse.handlers.deactivate_account
 import synapse.handlers.device
 import synapse.handlers.e2e_keys
 import synapse.rest.media.v1.media_repository
-import synapse.storage
 import synapse.state
+import synapse.storage
+
 
 class HomeServer(object):
     def get_auth(self) -> synapse.api.auth.Auth:
@@ -31,6 +33,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def get_state_handler(self) -> synapse.state.StateHandler:
         pass
 
+    def get_deactivate_account_handler(self) -> synapse.handlers.deactivate_account.DeactivateAccountHandler:
+        pass
+
     def get_federation_sender(self) -> synapse.federation.transaction_queue.TransactionQueue:
         pass