News & Blog

New figures released by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Northern Ireland show tenants are paying higher deposits than previously estimated, at an average £558 per tenancy.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme is working with Property Tribes, the U.K.’s leading landlord & investor community, in a raft of activities to promote deposit protection

The Department for Social Development has announced this week that the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Northern Ireland has been awarded a contract to operate both an insurance and custodial tenancy deposit scheme in Northern Ireland.

A new vacancy has arisen for the position of Operations Manager, TDS Northern Ireland.

Nine out of ten landlords are either satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of their tenants according to a new survey by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme this month..

The success of a two year education programme for letting agents and landlords covering all aspects of deposit protection has led to the launch of the TDS Academy by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.  This will provide a new course structure that will be rolled out from the middle of November and be will open to landlords in addition to letting agents, property managers and other property professionals.

The government has announced the new contract authorising the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to provide tenancy deposit protection services.

London and Quadrant Group, the largest provider of social housing in London and the South East, has announced it is to protect deposits on private rental homes with the award winning not-for-profit Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

Steve Harriott is to remain as Chief Executive of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and Nick Hankey, the Director of Resources, becomes Deputy Chief Executive and takes a place on the SafeDeposits Scotland Board.

In its Annual Review and Accounts for 2011-12 published today, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has reported a strong set of financial results for an “outstanding year”. These results have enabled the Scheme to reduce membership subscriptions and deliver greater service improvements to customers.

Over recent days there has been a great deal of comment on the Spencer Knight case and some queries as to the position regarding the tenancy deposits.

Firstly the Spencer Knight case should be viewed as an example of the tenancy deposit protection scheme working as it was intended.  No tenants will lose out as a result of the closure of the firm as the deposits were protected with TDS.

University students leaving their accommodation at the end of the summer term are being presented with a check list of cleaning tasks and the likely costs that could be incurred for failing to do the chores. These are costs that should not fall on the Bank of Mum and Dad.

Five years after tenancy deposit protection became law, an in-depth evaluation of its successful progress has been published by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.  This shows a rise in protected deposits from less than a £1 Billion to well over £2 Billion, the proportions of deposits protected for all Assured Shorthold Tenancies, and the volumes of deposit disputes.

Disputing tenants and landlords in the private rental sector still have more to learn about the adjudication system that resolves their deposit disputes without going to court. This lack of understanding can lead to undue perceptions of bias and unfairness in the system which a new guide to the process is designed to help eradicate.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has won its second award in little over a month, winning the title Tenancy Deposit Service of the Year 2012 at the PropertyDrum B2B Awards.

We sent a mail out yesterday to our members in London and the South East to let you know about the upcoming Judge for Yourself! Adjudication Workshop on 3rd May. We had a huge response and the course sold out within 30 minutes!

Five years after it became a legal requirement to protect tenants’ deposits in the private rental market, much of the ‘cultural’ antagonism between landlords and tenants may be reducing.  And, now it is forecast that the number of authorised deposit protection schemes may increase both this year and again in 2016 and the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution widened.

Backed by a glowing report, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has been awarded the UK government’s award for Customer Excellence. The Scheme joins a list of public service organisations such as the DVLA, the Lake District National Park and Companies House  that have achieved this standard.

We still have some places remaining on the popular Adjudication Workshop for Letting Agents.

Canterbury  17^th May 2012 9.30 -12.30

Four new dates have been announced for the Judge for Yourself Adjudication Workshop. The workshop, launched last year, has been extremely popular and an extended programme has been organsied to accommodate demand.

Landlords and agents should not be lulled into a sense of false security just because the new legal requirements for deposit protection allow a 30 day period to supply proof of deposit registration to the tenant instead of 14 days as from 6 April. 

The new regulations provide for the landlord to be sued on Day 31 for between one and three times the value of the deposit if the deposit has not been registered nor the proscribed information provided. 

The most comprehensive guide yet to mandatory tenancy deposit protection has been published by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, the not-for- profit organisation run by The Dispute Service.  It is seen as a vital tool to help secure the huge sums taken in deposits throughout the rental market every year.

Solving deposit disputes without ending up in court is already a tried and tested option and it should be rolled out further to minimise costs and stress and avoid disproportionate justice believes Steve Harriott, Chief Executive of the Tenancy Deposit scheme, which is operated by the Dispute Service.  

Reductions in the base rates for deposits registered by letting agents with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, coupled to other discounts and a members’ loyalty bonus, will substantially reduce agents’ costs. The new rates, to apply for the year from April 2012, reflect the efficiency of the services provided by the Scheme, its financial strength and the advantages of its not-for profit status.   

Heavy fines or a long jail term for the boss of fraudulent Oxford letting agent Charles Lawson have been welcomed by the head of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme as sending the right message to rogue agents in the Private Rented Sector.

A new tenancy deposit protection scheme for private sector landlords has been launched today by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, TDS, in association with the Residential Landlords Association, RLA.

Until now, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which already protects £1 Billion worth of deposits, the largest number of tenancy deposits protected by any deposit protection scheme, has been available primarily to regulated letting agents. Following extensive consultation with the Residential Landlords Association, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme will now provide landlords with much greater choice in the market.

Three new dates have been announced for the Judge for Yourself Adjudication Workshop. The workshop, launched last month, has been extremely popular and an extended programme has been organised to accommodate demand. To book your place please complete this form and return to member.relations@tds.gb.com , fax to 01442 253193, or post to:TDS Member Relations, PO Box 1255, Hemel Hemptead HP1 9GN

The new Localism Act 2011 has ended a year of uncertainty about deposit protection law in the private rented sector. The changes, which are expected to come into effect at some time next year, have been welcomed by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme as both clear and fair.

To cope with demand for our first three adjudication workshops, you can now register for an extra date on 6th December in Waterloo, London. Following the popularity of the workshop, we are currently compiling a schedule for more sessions in the new year. To keep up to date with the upcoming training programme, please email member.relations@tds.gb.com to sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter @tenancydeposits

The Dispute Service, the not-for-profit company responsible for operating the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, has announced its recovery from the previous year’s losses. The improved financial performance has come through remedial changes to the subscription model, which has included a discounting mechanism of up to 60% for members with a lower level of disputes.

The not for profit Tenancy Deposit Scheme is developing stronger links with the social housing sector and encouraging Housing Associations to join the scheme through a membership tailored to their needs.

A powerful consortium of Scottish landlord and tenant organisations has announced a bid to run a tenancy deposit protection scheme in Scotland through a new not-for-profit company, SafeDeposits Scotland Ltd.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has warned all landlords and letting agents in Wales that most tenancies with an annual rental value of up to £100,000 will be required to be registered for Tenancy Deposit Protection from the beginning of next month.

Following the huge success of our Meet TDS events, we are now giving you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the dispute resolution process on the 'Judge for Yourself' Adjudication Workshop...

When renting in the private sector, prepare for the end of a tenancy at the earliest opportunity. This was the message the Tenancy Deposit Scheme took to the student delegates at the NUS Welfare Zone Conference at the Liverpool Adelphi this week...

The lenient sentences handed down last week to the owner of a fraudulent Worcester based letting agency and his accountant has been described as a “kick in the teeth” for tenants and professional letting agents in the private rented sector.

From smashed antique vases to missing washing machines, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, TDS, has heard it all and this month has published some of the stories behind deposit disputes in a new set of case studies.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has appointed a new Director of Resources. Nick Hankey has joined the organisation this month and will be in charge of both Finance and IT...

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has warned students going into accommodation in the private rented sector this autumn not to let the euphoria of a new university year turn to tears...

Although Housing Minister Grant Shapps has ruled out compulsory Clients’ Money Protection for letting agents in the foreseeable future, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, TDS, today welcomed government support for its members...

Reports of a rise in bad landlords along with soaring rental demand and the return of buy to let investors have all led to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to remind tenants to be careful and protect themselves. Asking for evidence of tenancy deposit protection is a first line of defence against rogue landlords and cowboy agents...

The second tranche of this year’s subscription invoices for the Tenancy Deposit Scheme hit members’ desks this month and includes a major change. In response to members’ requests, subscriptions can be settled on a monthly basis, as well as quarterly or annually....

An overwhelming number of tenants in dispute with their landlords over the return of deposits found it easy to submit evidence for adjudication by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme...

We have updated our Tenancy Deposit Protection Certificate design to reflect changes requested by our customers...

The Scheme has won five accreditations from the Plain Language Commission for  important documents that are available through the website and on request...

Capitalising on the initial success of the “Meet the TDS” events in London and Newcastle...

A new 'Guide to Tenancy Deposit, Disputes and Damages' has been jointly published by all three government authorised tenancy deposit protection schemes today...

Up to a million private sector tenants with combined deposits…

Alison MacDougal has been appointed Deputy Head of Adjudication…

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme goes into a new financial year...

The invaluable results of the first major consultation through the TDS Members Forum...

Subscriptions to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and the cost of registering each tenancy are both to fall from April...

Despite one in six households now renting, there has been a market failure to educate the consumer...

The radical overhaul of its subscription model has returned the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to financial health following losses incurred during the last financial year. This is reported in the TDS Review and Annual Accounts for 2009-10 published today. The Scheme is now forecasting a surplus for 2010-11 and there will be no increase in members’ subscriptions for the financial year beginning April 2011.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has appointed Ben Beadle to the new post of Head of Member Relations. In this new and senior position he will be responsible for understanding and implementing ways to help the membership use the Scheme efficiently and cost effectively.

The partnership between Unipol, the national charity that works to improve training, standards and professionalism in student housing, and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, TDS, is to continue for a second year. This follows a successful launch last Christmas and acceptance by Unipol landlords of this bespoke student deposit protection scheme operating in Leeds, Bradford and Nottingham. It is believed that this protective link should become a role model for all corporate landlords throughout the country.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has announced the Board appointments of disputes and compliance expert Jodi Berg and Chief Executive Steve Harriott. This has been welcomed as providing additional specialist support for the Scheme going forward.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has announced the details of its new TDS Members Forum. Its role will include giving feedback to TDS about day-to-day use, identifying potential for improvement and helping to find practical methods of strengthening communication with members.

Mike Morgan has been appointed Head of Adjudication for The Tenancy Deposit Scheme. He takes up this position immediately, having carried out the role on an interim basis since June.

Two Japanese University professors have been half way round the world to learn how specialist services help the UK property market. One of the first calls for Professor Hiroko Saito and Professor Yasuhiko Nakajima was at the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to learn about the safety of deposits and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme, TDS, is on a firm financial footing and will continue to offer the most cost-efficient deposit protection for agents and their landlords. This was the message brought to the ARLA Advisory Forum today.

Many existing private sector tenancies with rental values of up to £100,000 a year will become Assured Shorthold Tenancies, ASTs, as from 1 October 2010.

The newly appointed Outreach Manager to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, Helen McCarthy, has been warmly welcomed by member firms.

Landlords and tenants in the Private Rented Sector have become substantially more aware of Tenancy Deposit Protection during the summer months. Nearly two thirds of all landlords and approaching half of all tenants are now believed to understand the mandatory requirements to protect deposits and provide for dispute resolution.

To cope with demand for our first three adjudication workshops, you can now register for an added date on 6th December in Waterloo, London. Following the popularity of the workshop, we are currently compiling a schedule for more sessions in the new year. To keep up to date with the upcoming training programme, please email member.relations@tds.gb.com to sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter @tenancydeposits