Law Weblog

Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme good news for students

Wednesday 11 April 2007 at 7:35 am | In News | Post Comment

Students at colleges and universities (and all other tenants) are more likety to get their deposit back when they leave their accommodation. New legislation aims to stop landlords keeping deposits for alleged damage to property or unpaid bills.The enhanced protection comes under the new Government authorised Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme (TDPS).

From this month all deposits taken by landlords and agents in England and Wales must be protected.
Tenants pay an average of £700 as a deposit on a property. In 2005/06 19% of tenants had their deposit returned in part whilst 11% did not get their deposit returned at all.
From 6 April Landlords and agents will, by law, have to sign up to one of three schemes that have been awarded contracts by the government.

Tenants will be able to check to see whether their landlord has protected their deposit in one of the schemes. If they haven’t done so within 14 days, the tenant can apply to the courts, who can direct the landlord/agent to pay three times the deposit back to the tenant. Each scheme will also include a free, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service.

More detail here