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Many landlords are failing to protect tenancy deposits

A number of landlords putting their property investments - probably their biggest assets - at risk by failing to comply with basic legislation, such as placing their tenants’ deposits in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme.

When renting out a property, most landlords choose to take a deposit from the tenant prior to the tenancy starting. The deposit gives a level of protection to landlords and means that should the tenant breach the terms of the tenancy agreement, such as causing damage or not paying rent, the landlord can then make appropriate deductions from the deposit.

Deposits taken on assured shorthold tenancies in England and Wales by landlords or letting agents must be protected within 30 days in any one of three government-backed insurance based or custodial deposit protection schemes operated by MyDeposits, Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). 

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Insured scheme 

The insurance product enables landlords or agents to retain the deposit during the tenancy but in return pay a protection fee to the scheme. 

Custodial scheme

The custodial scheme allows landlords or agents to hand over the deposit for protection during the tenancy, with no fees attached. The scheme is funded entirely from the interest earned from the deposit pool. 

There are separate tenancy deposit protection schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The three appointed scheme administrators in Scotland are Letting Protection Service Scotland, Safedeposits Scotland and MyDeposits Scotland. 

In Northern Ireland, the schemes are Deposit Scheme Northern Ireland, MyDeposits Northern Ireland and Letting Protection Service NI. 

But although it has been mandatory to hold a tenancy deposit in a tenancy deposit scheme since 2007, many landlords are running the risk of a heavy fine for not placing money into a government authorised scheme, according to Danielle Cullen, managing director at StudentTenant.com.

"A small proportion of landlords did not put student deposits into government protected schemes," said Cullen.

"Some landlords were holding tenants deposits in private bank accounts; breaking a law introduced in April 2007," he added. 

A report by the Centre of Economics Business Research last year found that a total of £514m worth of deposits was believed not to have been placed in one of the three schemes in England and Wales. 

It comes despite the risk of a penalty for the landlord, potentially running into thousands of pounds for not doing so. 

“While deposit protection schemes protect tenants, there is little or no policing to ensure landlords and agents are compliant,” said Jane Morris, managing director of online letting agents PropertyLetByUs.com. 

Be warned: Tenants can apply to a local county court if they think their landlord has not used a deposit protection scheme when they should have, and if found guilty, the court can order the landlord to pay up to three times the deposit within 14 days of making the order. 

Landlords could also face penalties if their agent failed to comply with the tenancy deposit regulation. 

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

  • jeremy clarke

    Even now when running landlord training days I encounter landlords who have failed to register or protect deposits. On some days I would say it's the majority rather than some; 2 weeks ago 3 from 8 had failed, 1 thinking it was okay because he kept the deposits in a separate bank account!

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    I had a full management service from my lettings agents from 2014. Unfortunately they 'forgot' to protect the tenants deposit. This has caused immense problems for me as a single property landlord (inherited granma's house). I paid for full management to ease the stress of keeping the house on. I am now going through a very difficult process re. tenants deposit for the mess and rent arrears that the tenant left.

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    Alternative to deposits www.dlighted.co.uk

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