Who are you and what does it say on your business card? I’m David Hackett, Head of Business Development for The DPS What...
Archive

The Law Society is raising concerns about the government’s mediation scheme announced at the time of the last eviction ban decision. The...
09 February 2021
From: Breaking News

Propertymark has thrown its weight behind an idea from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick to create a mediation service to arbitrate in...
11 January 2021
From: Breaking News

The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions for private renters has been extended in England and Wales. This will be until February 21 “at...
08 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Only 0.3 per cent of all tenancies in England and Wales ended with a dispute over the deposit in the six...
04 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Just over half the claims made by landlords against tenancy deposits in 2020 cited a need to clean or make repairs...
30 December 2020
From: Breaking News

Two PropTech suppliers have announced their products will integrate in order to, in their words, “dramatically reduce reporting and end of tenancy...
23 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Tenancy deposit disputes are messy and often frustrating for all involved. While the number of formal disputes remains low, the pandemic...
10 November 2020
From: Legislation & Compliance

The Deposit Protection Service is running three free online deposit dispute webinars, with the first scheduled for next week. The UK’s largest...
10 November 2020
From: Breaking News

The announcement of the Renters’ Reform Bill in the Queen’s speech last December caused a collective groan across the country from...
29 October 2020
From: Legislation & Compliance

Letting agents are being invited to additional courses from TDS Academy online. The courses, offering Continuing Professional Development training virtually, look in particular...
23 October 2020
From: Breaking News

Making sure the check-in process for tenants is carried out in a smooth manner is more important than ever, in light...
07 October 2020
From: Sponsored Content

The role of lettings agents has never been more crucial to landlords and tenants than it is now and will be...
28 September 2020
From: Sponsored Content

The government has set out confirmation of the new regulations and protocols that agents and landlords will have to follow if...
21 September 2020
From: Breaking News

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and safeagent have announced two new e-learning modules for letting agents and landlords. The modules, which form...
15 September 2020
From: Breaking News

With college and university terms about to start, and ever-more diligence required over Coronavirus, the Deposit Protection Service is offering an...
11 September 2020
From: Breaking News

The Property Redress Scheme, one of the two government-authorised redress services, claims its new mediation option is a success. In March this...
18 August 2020
From: Breaking News

There’s likely to be a further surge of new tenancies in the weeks to come, challenging agents’ ability to cope with...
22 July 2020
From: Breaking News

A new service claims it could help to avoid arrears by mediating in disputes between tenants and landlords or their agents. The...
14 July 2020
From: Breaking News

The number of rental deposit disputes lodged with one of the government-authorised deposit schemes has fallen 15 per cent across England...
25 June 2020
From: Breaking News

Landlords or their agents wanting to obtain possession of their property should act sooner rather than later despite the current ban. That’s...
23 June 2020
From: Breaking News

A call has gone out for agents to offer extra support to landlords in the coming months as arrears may well...
19 June 2020
From: Breaking News

Rent to the value of £10,982.25 is to be returned to tenants by a landlord who was operating without a licence. Mrs...
05 June 2020
From: Breaking News

There’s been a substantial 20 per cent rise in formal complaints about agents taken up by The Property Ombudsman. The figures refer...
11 May 2020
From: Breaking News

A raft of measures from government and courts intended to help private tenants during the Coronavirus lockdown may be storing up a...
04 May 2020
From: Breaking News

A leading PropTech expert has urged lettings agents to improve their administration and paperwork if they want to avoid what could...
29 April 2020
From: Breaking News

One of the official redress operators - Property Redress Scheme - has launched a tenancy mediation service for agents, landlords and...
28 April 2020
From: Breaking News

A real estate litigation partner at a leading law firm is warning that the Coronavirus crisis could lead to an 18...
24 April 2020
From: Breaking News

Hello and welcome to the latest Conquering Corona - our guide for agents to get through these challenging times. Please let us...
27 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Nick Lyons CEO What is No Letting Go and what does...
10 March 2020
From: 60 Second Interview

The Property Ombudsman has expelled five agencies, mostly for failures to honour awards: four of them are lettings operations and one...
21 February 2020
From: Breaking News

Who are you and what is your role within the company? Steve Rad, Managing Director What is ‘company name’ and what does it...
30 January 2020
From: 60 Second Interview

Poor communication remains the chief reason for disputes between agents, landlords and tenants at check-out time according to the latest research. A...
13 January 2020
From: Breaking News

A league table has been drawn up revealing the UK’s possession order hotspots - just as the government seems keen to...
17 December 2019
From: Breaking News

If letting agents want more satisfied clients and fewer disputes they should provide better information to tenants. That’s the view of PropTech...
17 December 2019
From: Breaking News

The Association of Residential Letting Agents and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme have created a matrix for letting agents and landlords about...
11 December 2019
From: Breaking News

A new product in the increasingly competitive field of deposit alternatives has been launched by lettings and landlord insurance industry giant,...
28 November 2019
From: Breaking News

The National Union of Students claims young people at college and university are being unfairly targeted by agents and landlords when...
08 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Citizens Advice wants the next government to radically alter the private rental sector in favour of tenants. The charity’s 2019 election manifesto,...
08 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Lettings agents who diversify to offer tenant liability insurance not only broaden their own business but also increase peace of mind...
05 November 2019
From: Breaking News

A new piece of legislation has been invoked to ban a landlord from any involvement in the private rental sector for...
30 October 2019
From: Breaking News

Most landlords are wary of the potential damage, smells and noise complaints that can come with accommodating a tenant with pets....
23 October 2019
From: Sponsored Content

Government plans to end so-called ‘no fault’ evictions may backfire and not improve tenants’ security at all. That’s the warning from Osbornes...
15 October 2019
From: Breaking News

Letting agents are to be offered free training in managing tenancy deposits and disputes if they operate in Edinburgh. In the last...
27 September 2019
From: Breaking News

Did you know that preparing for a deposit dispute starts at the beginning of a tenancy? When tenants and landlords disagree about...
26 September 2019
From: Sponsored Content

It’s that time of year again when pencil cases are fully stocked and the smell of dusty books opening fills the...
13 September 2019
From: Sponsored Content

A new property court similar to the Scottish system should be established in England and Wales to deal with the proposed...
16 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Buy to let investors in the UK are spending nearly £4.7 billion a year on their rental properties, an average of...
19 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Two housing organisations have come together to fund a major research programme to improve standards in the private rental sector. They are...
17 June 2019
From: Breaking News

A statement issued by short lets management firm Hostmaker about its controversial advertising campaign has been branded “disgusting” by a campaign...
07 June 2019
From: Breaking News

Controversial London lettings agency Flintons has again been named by a BBC TV programme for allegedly unreasonable behaviour in relation to...
03 June 2019
From: Breaking News

There’s been another major industry survey revealing that a high number of lettings agents and landlords may quit the private rental...
22 May 2019
From: Breaking News

Not-for-profit operator Tenancy Deposit Scheme says early intervention between landlords and tenants across the UK is resulting in many more deposit...
17 May 2019
From: Breaking News

A controversial review website which says it identifies “good (and bad) letting agents” has introduced tools aiming to reduce disputes at...
01 May 2019
From: Breaking News

A dispute concerning a ‘no deposit option’ put forward by a letting agency has reached the Daily Mail. The newspaper’s online service...
12 April 2019
From: Breaking News

New ‘best practice’ guidance to letting agents and landlords has been introduced ahead of the introduction of the tenants’ fees ban...
27 March 2019
From: Breaking News

A Scottish mediation company and the SafeDeposits Scotland Trust are to create eight workshops aiming to improve relationships between agents, landlords,...
15 March 2019
From: Breaking News

A programme of nine new educational workshops takes place next month, some of which target new agents with little or no experience of deposits...
06 March 2019
From: Breaking News

A new free online training course which guides letting agents through the key principles of disputes has been released by The...
27 February 2019
From: Breaking News

Specialist student utilities and service provider Glide has launched a product it claims removes the admin and hassle traditionally associated with...
01 February 2019
From: Breaking News

Almost the entire lettings industry has viewed the upcoming ban on tenants fees levied by agents in England and Wales as...
31 January 2019
From: Breaking News

A leading PropTech exponent is supporting the government’s Housing Court initiative, suggesting it could make redress for agents, landlords and tenants...
22 January 2019
From: Breaking News

Agents have under three weeks left to respond to the government’s proposals to introduce a Housing Court to settle disputes in...
03 January 2019
From: Breaking News

Two PropTech suppliers are claiming their new products will help lettings agents in the future, especially in the light of the...
14 December 2018
From: Breaking News

The controversial landlord Fergus Wilson says he has purchased a Body Worn Camera for £75 in a bid to avoid at...
27 November 2018
From: Breaking News

Fewer than one per cent of private tenancies end in a dispute over the deposit - and the figure is this...
22 November 2018
From: Breaking News

A landlord had been ordered to give back almost £4,000 that was paid to him while operating without a licence. The case...
29 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Two more lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman as a result of unpaid awards following disputes involving landlords...
21 September 2018
From: Breaking News

More independent lettings agencies - Anthony Pepe, Let Leeds and Alexander & Co (formerly kaleidoscope Group) - have signed up to...
11 September 2018
From: Breaking News

Just under a third of people moving from one privately rented property to another in the past two years had to...
13 August 2018
From: Breaking News

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it still believes there is an opportunity for the government to introduce mandatory inventory...
27 July 2018
From: Breaking News

An adjudicator with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has given advice on how to avoid disputes over gardening this summer. Writing on the...
04 June 2018
From: Breaking News

A leading property disputes solicitor has joined a growing chorus of criticism of how Right To Rent will cope with issues...
30 April 2018
From: Breaking News

The Property Ombudsman has released details of two letting agencies expelled over financial issues, and the extension of an expulsion period...
26 March 2018
From: Breaking News

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme is sending its congratulations to the writers of an EastEnders storyline tackling problems in the private rented sector. A recent...
23 March 2018
From: Breaking News

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has announced new dates for its academy courses, delivering training on tenancy deposit disputes and adjudication to...
09 March 2018
From: Breaking News

The new online database identifying rogue letting agents and landlords will save lives according to the London Fire Brigade. We wrote about...
21 December 2017
From: Breaking News

Letting agents and landlords are being urged by a trade body to sign a petition calling on the government to make...
02 November 2017
From: Breaking News

A leading legal expert specialising in the private rental market says the sector should set up basic procedures to protect against...
01 November 2017
From: Breaking News

A study by the Romans lettings agency group has highlighted common issues cited by agents and landlords deducting funds from a...
01 November 2017
From: Breaking News

One of the most dramatic changes in the UK’s private rental sector regulations is set to take place in five weeks...
23 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Wear and tear can be a highly contentious issue for many tenants and landlords; many arguments have arisen because of unclear definitions...
12 October 2017
From: Sponsored Content

A leading buy to let expert is calling on agents to work more closely with landlords and tenants to improve communications...
05 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Letting agents are being reminded of the importance of independent and professionally compiled inventories for individual students as they start or...
19 September 2017
From: Breaking News

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it is not surprised the majority of complaints made to The Property Redress Scheme...
11 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Anti-deposits campaigning agent Ajay Jagota says the 2004 Housing Act - which actually came into effect in 2007 - may now...
30 August 2017
From: Breaking News

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has launched a new guide for agents, landlords and tenants on how to make concluding a lease...
25 August 2017
From: Breaking News

A leading trade body says a cap on damage deposits paid by tenants - as proposed by the government - could...
23 August 2017
From: Breaking News

A tenant appears to be entitled to pay sub-market rent for the rest of his life after a legal case involving...
21 August 2017
From: Breaking News

The Residential Landlords’ Association has written an angry letter of protest to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation following the publication of what...
26 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The BBC’s reality programme The Week The Landlords Moved In should act as an eye-opener for the lettings industry when it...
21 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The head of the parent firm of mydeposits is warning tenants and landlords tempted to enter into new ‘no-deposit’ schemes to...
29 June 2017
From: Breaking News

An alternative to traditional deposits, already tested in the German rental market, is now being introduced into the UK - and...
28 June 2017
From: Breaking News

Who are you? Rebecca Johnston What does it say on your business card? Managing Director (TDS Custodial) What is TDS Custodial? TDS Custodial is a government-approved...
09 June 2017
From: 60 Second Interview

Letting agents and property managers will soon have a new way to coordinate maintenance reports and inspections, thanks to a refreshing...
07 June 2017
From: Sponsored Content

Research has revealed the top reasons tenants lose some or all of their deposits when they check out. The survey of 2,588...
05 June 2017
From: Breaking News

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme says the end of May usually triggers the annual movement of students from their rented properties -...
25 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The Residential Landlords’ Association is demanding that the new government improves the “slow, complex, and underfunded” system which means that it...
23 May 2017
From: Breaking News

A group of students in Bristol has won a court case after a lettings agency acting for a landlord deducted money...
23 February 2017
From: Breaking News

Professional independent inventories can save money for landlords at a time when tax changes threaten to make private letting for expensive...
22 February 2017
From: Breaking News

The think tank IPPR has called for increased tenant-power within the private rental sector to give renters the kind of clout...
16 January 2017
From: Breaking News

The soaring cost of a private rental deposit - now approaching £1,000 - makes the need for an accurate inventory greater...
14 November 2016
From: Breaking News

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it is concerned at the results of a survey suggesting 79 per cent of...
02 November 2016
From: Breaking News

An industry body says more work must be done to reduce the number of tenancy deposit disputes, despite recent improvements. The Association...
21 October 2016
From: Breaking News

Letting agents and landlords across Scotland have been invited to check they are up to speed with current regulations at a...
13 October 2016
From: Breaking News

As an Agent, understanding and managing your landlords’ expectations of their tenants and property is a necessary and sometimes difficult task....
05 October 2016
From: Sponsored Content

The Property Ombudsman scheme’s annual report, just released, reveals that there has been a dramatic 32 per cent surge in the...
04 October 2016
From: Breaking News

The number of tenancy deposit disputes reached a record high in 2015-16, but still represents only a fraction of all deposits. Figures...
27 September 2016
From: Breaking News

Four out of 10 students lose well over a third of their deposits when they rent privately while at university or...
08 September 2016
From: Breaking News

Airbnb has hit back at a claim by the Residential Landlords Association that lets promoted by the firm effectively worsened London’s housing...
01 September 2016
From: Breaking News

Cleaning is the number one cause of disputes in the private rental sector since the introduction of tenant deposit protection in...
30 August 2016
From: Breaking News

Suzy Hershman, Head of Dispute Resolution for mydeposits, covers her top tips for preparing your dispute evidence If I had a £1 for...
12 August 2016
From: Sponsored Content

Our latest infographic shows figures of how the majority of deposits are repaid at the end of tenancy and goes into...
05 August 2016
From: Sponsored Content

When renting out a property, most landlords choose to take a deposit from their tenant prior to the tenancy starting. The...
29 July 2016
From: Sponsored Content

Letting agents will be pleased to hear that landlords who manage all aspects of tenancies on their own are being warned...
09 June 2016
From: Breaking News

Landlords and letting agents are coming across increasingly dirty rental properties at the end of tenancies, as a study reveals that...
26 May 2016
From: Breaking News

A new survey by insurer Direct Line for Business suggests that landlords who have not instructed letting agents to act for...
06 April 2016
From: Breaking News

Poor cleaning leads to some 60 per cent of the 36,000 deposit disputes referred for adjudication each year according to tenancy...
22 March 2016
From: Breaking News

The average tenant spends a total of £577.64 on letting agent fees, according to new research. The research, carried out by an...
17 March 2016
From: Breaking News

The controversial campaign group ACORN, which has made headlines by protesting outside letting agency offices in Bristol, is launching a new...
24 February 2016
From: Breaking News

The Association of Residential Letting Agents wants a dedicated court or tribunal to deal with all property and housing related legal...
25 January 2016
From: Breaking News

Who are you? I’m the Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme. I previously worked for Legal & General PLC dealing...
23 December 2015
From: 60 Second Interview

An energy supply company that specialises in the lettings market has announced deals with three major businesses that allows it to...
01 December 2015
From: Breaking News

The number of enquiries concerning lettings issues received by The Property Ombudsman in the past year was almost double the number of...
20 October 2015
From: Breaking News

A letting agent's life is a varied one, with the profession requiring agents to undertake a wide range of activities in...
16 October 2015
From: Sponsored Content

A formal tenancy deposit dispute could be defused by something as basic as a simple conversation, says the Association of Independent...
07 October 2015
From: Breaking News

Approaching 50 per cent of private tenants have experienced property maintenance issues with their agents or landlords. The figure comes through research...
01 October 2015
From: Breaking News

Students are considered to be almost twice as likely to lose their deposit at the end of a tenancy than any...
23 September 2015
From: Breaking News

A signed tenancy agreement is not worth the paper it is written as tenants are blatantly ignoring its terms and conditions...
18 September 2015
From: Breaking News

Tenancy deposit protection scheme mydeposits says almost a third of its notified disputes between tenants and agents or landlords do not...
12 August 2015
From: Breaking News

An inventory software firm claims periodic visits by agents or landlords could lead to a reduction in damage to rental properties. The...
05 August 2015
From: Breaking News

Student tenants risk losing thousands of pounds through items detailed in a property inventory going missing at the end of a...
16 July 2015
From: Sponsored Content

The Property Redress Scheme, one of the three approved ombudsman-style redress schemes for estate and letting agents, is expanding into small...
15 June 2015
From: Breaking News

An officer from The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPO) and a member of staff from Northwood recently switched roles for a week...
04 June 2015
From: Breaking News

A deposit protection scheme has published a deposit dispute best practice guide for letting agents and landlords. my|deposits has produced the document...
02 June 2015
From: Breaking News

OK, you’ve had your fun. Now let’s leave the regulators regulate and work for the public. If you don’t know what...
22 May 2015
From: Features

In 2007, the government introduced a compulsory deposit protection scheme as part of the Housing Act 2004 to help protect tenants...
22 May 2015
From: Features

The Chartered Institute of Housing has welcomed Scottish Government moves to make private renting more secure for tenants. In its submission to...