Low-cost dispute courses for agents

Tenancy deposit protection scheme My Deposits is setting up courses for letting agents to help them deal with deposit disputes.

The courses - which will count towards continuing professional development hours - will look at alternative dispute resolutions offered to letting agents and tenants who are unable to agree over the return of deposits at the end of tenancies.

The courses will also cover what evidence is needed to help support a tenant's claim to a deposit, case studies of disputes, information on the compilation of inventories, guidance on what constitutes fair' wear and tear, and discussions on why landlords and letting agents lose disputes.

Unless the agent's evidence justifies the deductions they propose to the deposit, it should be returned to the tenant. Some agents are unaware of where they're going wrong but if they can understand best practice' this will help to avoid a formal deposit dispute occurring at the end says MyDeposits' adjudicator Suzy Hershman.

Courses cost up to £45 per person and take place at Sheffield, Exeter, Southampton, Oxford, Cambridge and London over the next four weeks.