A new free online training course which guides letting agents through the key principles of disputes has been released by The Deposit Protection Service and the National Approved Letting Scheme.

Deposit Disputes is a training module written by the DPS’ head of adjudication and is available in The DPS Training Hub section of NALS online platform called the Virtual Learning Environment.

The course describes the key documents landlords and agents should provide in order to ensure a successful outcome in the event of a dispute. These include: a signed check-in and check-out report agreed by the tenant, date-stamped photographic evidence, plus invoices and quotations.

The online module also explains key criteria adjudicators consider when deciding to award a claim, such as fair wear and tear, unfair terms, and betterment.

Those who successfully complete the course will receive a joint NALS and DPS e-certificate which can be put towards CPD accreditation.

The module is the first of four due to become available inside The DPS Training Hub. Other DPS content includes an interactive adjudication case study, as well as advice on how to keep costs low by using custodial deposit protection.

Daren King, head of tenancy deposit protection at The DPS, says: “The module will help equip letting agents with the key points taken into account throughout a deposit dispute, including what happens when it comes to adjudication. This partnership provides detailed information to enable letting agents to understand their key responsibilities when it comes to the administration of tenancy deposits.”