Deposit disputes reach highest ever level

Concerning new figures released from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme reveals that deposit disputes are at their biggest level since records began.

The figures indicate that in 2015, year-on-year adjudications rose by 11% to 27,816. This was 2,787 more than in 2014. In the past five years, adjudications have jumped by 36%.

Reasoning

Further data from the TDS indicates that damage, cleaning and redecoration are the biggest reasons given for a deposit dispute. In cases given to the TDS during 2014-15, cleaning was highlighted in 58% of cases, with damage appearing in 52%.

The table below shows how the number of adjudications completed has risen over time:

[1]

Deposit disputes reach highest ever level

Worrying

Jane Morris, Managing Director of PropertyLetByUs.com notes that, ‘these statistics are worrying and send a clear message to landlords and agents-this problem is not going away until they are better protected at the start, during and at the end of a tenancy agreement.’[1]

‘It is vital that landlords and agents ensure they get all the paperwork right at the start and at the end of a new tenancy agreement. The reality is that some landlords are failing to put a letting contract in place, or they have very unfair clauses in the contract. Other landlords don’t conduct an adequate check-in and check-out, or don’t keep copies of correspondence with the tenant which could provide important evidence in a dispute,’ Morris continued.[1]

Concluding, Morris said, ‘landlords are agents also have a thorough and detailed inventory which will enable both parties to be treated fairly and reasonably. This documentation will help resolve potential disputes and prevent them reaching the courts.’[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/deposit-disputes-at-highest-ever-levels-recorded.html