For Two thirds of landlords and lettings agents have
said they are negative (37.6 per cent) or indifferent
(33.7 per cent) to the introduction of mandatory deposit
protection.
But ‘first indications are that a third of all
tenants are aware of the introduction of tenancy deposit
protection schemes and their response to the implementation
is positive’, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has claimed.
Letting agents and landlords questioned showed ‘a
high level of awareness of mandatory deposit protection’,
it said. Despite their dislike, some 60 per cent of landlords
questioned said they had joined one of the three authorised
schemes. A further quarter said they do not take deposits
at all and, as a result, fall outside legal requirements
to be joined to a scheme.
’It is surprising and gratifying that such a high
proportion of tenants are aware and positive about the
benefits of tenancy deposit protection so quickly after
implementation. Yet, with only a third being aware, these
figures show that we still have a long way to go to get
the message across to those who will benefit the most’,
said TDS chief executive Lawrence Greenberg.
Meanwhile the Government has announced that so far some
66,000 are covered by deposit protection schemes – compared
with an estimated 1.7m tenancies.
‘This great start to the new tenancy deposit protection
schemes shows that time is up for rogue landlords who
refuse to repay deposits and tenants who leave without
paying their last month's deposit’, said Communities
Minister Baroness Andrews.
For the national Association of Landlords, chairman
David Salusbury said that tenancy deposit protection
was gradually becoming part of the private rented sector
scene. ‘Hopefully it will play its part in raising
standards and increasing professionalism across the sector,
which should benefit not just tenants but also landlords
and agents’.
• Landlords
and agents who wish to avoid the cost, administrative
burden and uncertainty involved in deposit protection
schemes by accepting members of the Tenant Guarantee
Scheme (iguarantee.co.uk). This insurance backed no deposit
option provides better protection and none of the fuss
associated with deposit protection schemes, and benefits
both tenants and landlords.
