Archive

At Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), we're committed to making the deposit protection process as pain-free as possible. From our beginning of...

The sweeping reforms for the private rental sector announced by the government at the end of last week do not go...

Today’s proposed changes to the private rental sector are the most radical for a generation. The first industry debate on this hot...

The government has released the full details of what it calls the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper. This is to form...

The average private rental tenancy deposit last year exceeded £1,000 new figures show. At an average of £1,005 per tenancy, the cost...

Two of the most respected figures in the lettings sector are calling on agents, landlords and tenants to consider the future...

The government is admitting that its rental reform agenda is aimed primarily at the north of England - which just happens...

Agents have voiced their reservations over aspects of the widespread rental sector reform announced by the government in the Queen’s Speech. Yesterday...

The Queen’s Speech has confirmed that a radical re-shaping of the rental sector in England is being pushed ahead by the...

An activist at the centre of a controversy involving a London letting agent has used a left-wing website to explain how...

Propertymark has stepped up its call for a dedicated Housing Tribunal to improve mediation and enhanced dispute resolution. The trade body also...

Fifteen years ago Take That’s ‘Shine’ was at number one in the charts, ‘Mr Bean’s Holiday’ drew crowds into cinemas and...

A study by the Tenancy Deposit Service has found that garden maintenance remains one of the most common reasons behind deposit...

With the steady introduction of rental platforms and apps designed to bypass letting agents and property managers in the tenancy process,...

One of the country’s best-read and respected regional newspapers has accused Airbnb of a ‘racket’ by advertising homes on its short-let...

A lettings agent who also acts on behalf of tenants against landlords and agents claims to have received 1,000 enquiries from...

Agents should not wait until regulation and legislation improve the rental sector - they should be doing so voluntarily.  That’s the view...

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Purplebricks could face a bill of as much as £30m “after it put thousands of landlords...

A Newcastle lettings agency says it’s cracked how to help reduce tenancy disputes at check out and speed up the return...

ARLA Propertymark has thrown its weight behind a new dispute resolution service as a quicker and less expensive alternative to court...

When it comes to gathering evidence for deposit disputes, the need for thoroughness is understandable. However, on occasion some landlords take...

Reluctance to move during the pandemic is thought to be a key reason for a sharp drop in tenancy disputes between...

New rules out for consultation concerning block management aim to improve professionalism across the sector, root out rogue agents, and increase...

A survey of some 600 agents and landlords by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has revealed the most popular cause of deposit...

The Property Ombudsman and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors are seeking views of agents, landlords and tenants on a new...

Propertymark has given its support to a free and independent dispute resolution service, the Business Banking Resolution Service, which is being offered to...

Through our FREE online deposit dispute webinars, we’ve trained thousands of landlords and letting agents about how the dispute resolution process...

Flexible working for letting agents, so much a part of activities for the past 18 months, is here to stay according...

The Dogs Trust campaign ‘lets with pets’ states: “Landlords and letting agencies who exclude pet owners from their properties are missing out...

The government has launched an online checker in a bid to avoid disputes between landlords and tenants over the entitlement for...

The government has surprised observers by announcing that compulsory mediation over Covid-related arrears would happen in the commercial sector - but not...

The government has surprised observers by announcing that compulsory mediation over Covid-related arrears would happen in the commercial sector - but not...

The online lettings platform Mashroom has set out a list of guidelines it’s offering to prospective tenants to avoid them falling...

The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions is now finally at an end and from today there is a change to the notice...

With winter gone and spring now in full bloom, there’s no better time to inspect your property to check for damage...

The DPS is hosting free dispute webinars to enable landlords and letting agents to navigate the dispute resolution process. More than 2,000...

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

The Law Society is raising concerns about the government’s mediation scheme announced at the time of the last eviction ban decision. The...

Propertymark has thrown its weight behind an idea from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick to create a mediation service to arbitrate in...

The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions for private renters has been extended in England and Wales. This will be until February 21 “at...

Only 0.3 per cent of all tenancies in England and Wales ended with a dispute over the deposit in the six...

Just over half the claims made by landlords against tenancy deposits in 2020 cited a need to clean or make repairs...

Two PropTech suppliers have announced their products will integrate in order to, in their words, “dramatically reduce reporting and end of tenancy...

Tenancy deposit disputes are messy and often frustrating for all involved. While the number of formal disputes remains low, the pandemic...

The Deposit Protection Service is running three free online deposit dispute webinars, with the first scheduled for next week. The UK’s largest...

The announcement of the Renters’ Reform Bill in the Queen’s speech last December caused a collective groan across the country from...

Letting agents are being invited to additional courses from TDS Academy online. The courses, offering Continuing Professional Development training virtually, look in particular...

Making sure the check-in process for tenants is carried out in a smooth manner is more important than ever, in light...

The role of lettings agents has never been more crucial to landlords and tenants than it is now and will be...

The government has set out confirmation of the new regulations and protocols that agents and landlords will have to follow if...

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and safeagent have announced two new e-learning modules for letting agents and landlords. The modules, which form...

With college and university terms about to start, and ever-more diligence required over Coronavirus, the Deposit Protection Service is offering an...

The Property Redress Scheme, one of the two government-authorised redress services, claims its new mediation option is a success. In March this...

There’s likely to be a further surge of new tenancies in the weeks to come, challenging agents’ ability to cope with...

A new service claims it could help to avoid arrears by mediating in disputes between tenants and landlords or their agents. The...

The number of rental deposit disputes lodged with one of the government-authorised deposit schemes has fallen 15 per cent across England...

Landlords or their agents wanting to obtain possession of their property should act sooner rather than later despite the current ban. That’s...

A call has gone out for agents to offer extra support to landlords in the coming months as arrears may well...

Rent to the value of £10,982.25 is to be returned to tenants by a landlord who was operating without a licence. Mrs...

There’s been a substantial 20 per cent rise in formal complaints about agents taken up by The Property Ombudsman.  The figures refer...

A raft of measures from government and courts intended to help private tenants during the Coronavirus lockdown may be storing up a...

A leading PropTech expert has urged lettings agents to improve their administration and paperwork if they want to avoid what could...

One of the official redress operators - Property Redress Scheme - has launched a tenancy mediation service for agents, landlords and...

A real estate litigation partner at a leading law firm is warning that the Coronavirus crisis could lead to an 18...

Hello and welcome to the latest Conquering Corona - our guide for agents to get through these challenging times. Please let us...

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Nick Lyons CEO What is No Letting Go and what does...

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

Who are you and what is your role within the company? Steve Rad, Managing Director What is ‘company name’ and what does it...

Poor communication remains the chief reason for disputes between agents, landlords and tenants at check-out time according to the latest research. A...

A league table has been drawn up revealing the UK’s possession order hotspots - just as the government seems keen to...

If letting agents want more satisfied clients and fewer disputes they should provide better information to tenants. That’s the view of PropTech...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme have created a matrix for letting agents and landlords about...

A new product in the increasingly competitive field of deposit alternatives has been launched by lettings and landlord insurance industry giant,...

The National Union of Students claims young people at college and university are being unfairly targeted by agents and landlords when...

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

Lettings agents who diversify to offer tenant liability insurance not only broaden their own business but also increase peace of mind...

A new piece of legislation has been invoked to ban a landlord from any involvement in the private rental sector for...

Most landlords are wary of the potential damage, smells and noise complaints that can come with accommodating a tenant with pets....

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

Letting agents are to be offered free training in managing tenancy deposits and disputes if they operate in Edinburgh. In the last...

Did you know that preparing for a deposit dispute starts at the beginning of a tenancy? When tenants and landlords disagree about...

It’s that time of year again when pencil cases are fully stocked and the smell of dusty books opening fills the...

A new property court similar to the Scottish system should be established in England and Wales to deal with the proposed...

Buy to let investors in the UK are spending nearly £4.7 billion a year on their rental properties, an average of...

Two housing organisations have come together to fund a major research programme to improve standards in the private rental sector. They are...

A statement issued by short lets management firm Hostmaker about its controversial advertising campaign has been branded “disgusting” by a campaign...

Controversial London lettings agency Flintons has again been named by a BBC TV programme for allegedly unreasonable behaviour in relation to...

There’s been another major industry survey revealing that a high number of lettings agents and landlords may quit the private rental...

Not-for-profit operator Tenancy Deposit Scheme says early intervention between landlords and tenants across the UK is resulting in many more deposit...

A controversial review website which says it identifies “good (and bad) letting agents” has introduced tools aiming to reduce disputes at...

A dispute concerning a ‘no deposit option’ put forward by a letting agency has reached the Daily Mail. The newspaper’s online service...

New ‘best practice’ guidance to letting agents and landlords has been introduced ahead of the introduction of the tenants’ fees ban...

A Scottish mediation company and the SafeDeposits Scotland Trust are to create eight workshops aiming to improve relationships between agents, landlords,...

A programme of nine new educational workshops takes place next month, some of which target new agents with little or no experience of deposits...

A new free online training course which guides letting agents through the key principles of disputes has been released by The...

Specialist student utilities and service provider Glide has launched a product it claims removes the admin and hassle traditionally associated with...

Almost the entire lettings industry has viewed the upcoming ban on tenants fees levied by agents in England and Wales as...

A leading PropTech exponent is supporting the government’s Housing Court initiative, suggesting it could make redress for agents, landlords and tenants...

Agents have under three weeks left to respond to the government’s proposals to introduce a Housing Court to settle disputes in...

Two PropTech suppliers are claiming their new products will help lettings agents in the future, especially in the light of the...

The controversial landlord Fergus Wilson says he has purchased a Body Worn Camera for £75 in a bid to avoid at...

Fewer than one per cent of private tenancies end in a dispute over the deposit - and the figure is this...

A landlord had been ordered to give back almost £4,000 that was paid to him while operating without a licence. The case...

Two more lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman as a result of unpaid awards following disputes involving landlords...

More independent lettings agencies - Anthony Pepe, Let Leeds and Alexander & Co (formerly kaleidoscope Group) - have signed up to...

Just under a third of people moving from one privately rented property to another in the past two years had to...

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it still believes there is an opportunity for the government to introduce mandatory inventory...

An adjudicator with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has given advice on how to avoid disputes over gardening this summer. Writing on the...

A leading property disputes solicitor has joined a growing chorus of criticism of how Right To Rent will cope with issues...

The Property Ombudsman has released details of two letting agencies expelled over financial issues, and the extension of an expulsion period...

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme is sending its congratulations to the writers of an EastEnders storyline tackling problems in the private rented sector. A recent...

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has announced new dates for its academy courses, delivering training on tenancy deposit disputes and adjudication to...

The new online database identifying rogue letting agents and landlords will save lives according to the London Fire Brigade. We wrote about...

Letting agents and landlords are being urged by a trade body to sign a petition calling on the government to make...

A leading legal expert specialising in the private rental market says the sector should set up basic procedures to protect against...

A study by the Romans lettings agency group has highlighted common issues cited by agents and landlords deducting funds from a...

One of the most dramatic changes in the UK’s private rental sector regulations is set to take place in five weeks...

Wear and tear can be a highly contentious issue for many tenants and landlords; many arguments have arisen because of unclear definitions...

A leading buy to let expert is calling on agents to work more closely with landlords and tenants to improve communications...

Letting agents are being reminded of the importance of independent and professionally compiled inventories for individual students as they start or...

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it is not surprised the majority of complaints made to The Property Redress Scheme...

Anti-deposits campaigning agent Ajay Jagota says the 2004 Housing Act - which actually came into effect in 2007 - may now...

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has launched a new guide for agents, landlords and tenants on how to make concluding a lease...

A leading trade body says a cap on damage deposits paid by tenants - as proposed by the government - could...

A tenant appears to be entitled to pay sub-market rent for the rest of his life after a legal case involving...

The Residential Landlords’ Association has written an angry letter of protest to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation following the publication of what...

The BBC’s reality programme The Week The Landlords Moved In should act as an eye-opener for the lettings industry when it...

The head of the parent firm of mydeposits is warning tenants and landlords tempted to enter into new ‘no-deposit’ schemes to...

An alternative to traditional deposits, already tested in the German rental market, is now being introduced into the UK - and...

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...

Letting agents and property managers will soon have a new way to coordinate maintenance reports and inspections, thanks to a refreshing...

Research has revealed the top reasons tenants lose some or all of their deposits when they check out.    The survey of 2,588...

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme says the end of May usually triggers the annual movement of students from their rented properties -...

The Residential Landlords’ Association is demanding that the new government improves the “slow, complex, and underfunded” system which means that it...

A group of students in Bristol has won a court case after a lettings agency acting for a landlord deducted money...

Professional independent inventories can save money for landlords at a time when tax changes threaten to make private letting for expensive...

  The think tank IPPR has called for increased tenant-power within the private rental sector to give renters the kind of clout...

The soaring cost of a private rental deposit - now approaching £1,000 - makes the need for an accurate inventory greater...

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it is concerned at the results of a survey suggesting 79 per cent of...

An industry body says more work must be done to reduce the number of tenancy deposit disputes, despite recent improvements.   The Association...

Letting agents and landlords across Scotland have been invited to check they are up to speed with current regulations at a...

As an Agent, understanding and managing your landlords’ expectations of their tenants and property is a necessary and sometimes difficult task....

The Property Ombudsman scheme’s annual report, just released, reveals that there has been a dramatic 32 per cent surge in the...

The number of tenancy deposit disputes reached a record high in 2015-16, but still represents only a fraction of all deposits. Figures...

Four out of 10 students lose well over a third of their deposits when they rent privately while at university or...

Airbnb has hit back at a claim by the Residential Landlords Association that lets promoted by the firm effectively worsened London’s housing...

Cleaning is the number one cause of disputes in the private rental sector since the introduction of tenant deposit protection in...

Suzy Hershman, Head of Dispute Resolution for mydeposits, covers her top tips for preparing your dispute evidence If I had a £1 for...

Our latest infographic shows figures of how the majority of deposits are repaid at the end of tenancy and goes into...

When renting out a property, most landlords choose to take a deposit from their tenant prior to the tenancy starting. The...

Letting agents will be pleased to hear that landlords who manage all aspects of tenancies on their own are being warned...

Landlords and letting agents are coming across increasingly dirty rental properties at the end of tenancies, as a study reveals that...

A new survey by insurer Direct Line for Business suggests that landlords who have not instructed letting agents to act for...

Poor cleaning leads to some 60 per cent of the 36,000 deposit disputes referred for adjudication each year according to tenancy...

The average tenant spends a total of £577.64 on letting agent fees, according to new research. The research, carried out by an...

The controversial campaign group ACORN, which has made headlines by protesting outside letting agency offices in Bristol, is launching a new...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents wants a dedicated court or tribunal to deal with all property and housing related legal...

Who are you? I’m the Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme. I previously worked for Legal & General PLC dealing...

An energy supply company that specialises in the lettings market has announced deals with three major businesses that allows it to...

The number of enquiries concerning lettings issues received by The Property Ombudsman in the past year was almost double the number of...

A letting agent's life is a varied one, with the profession requiring agents to undertake a wide range of activities in...

A formal tenancy deposit dispute could be defused by something as basic as a simple conversation, says the Association of Independent...

Approaching 50 per cent of private tenants have experienced property maintenance issues with their agents or landlords. The figure comes through research...

Students are considered to be almost twice as likely to lose their deposit at the end of a tenancy than any...

A signed tenancy agreement is not worth the paper it is written as tenants are blatantly ignoring its terms and conditions...

Tenancy deposit protection scheme mydeposits says almost a third of its notified disputes between tenants and agents or landlords do not...

An inventory software firm claims periodic visits by agents or landlords could lead to a reduction in damage to rental properties. The...

Student tenants risk losing thousands of pounds through items detailed in a property inventory going missing at the end of a...

The Property Redress Scheme, one of the three approved ombudsman-style redress schemes for estate and letting agents, is expanding into small...

An officer from The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPO) and a member of staff from Northwood recently switched roles for a week...

A deposit protection scheme has published a deposit dispute best practice guide for letting agents and landlords. my|deposits has produced the document...

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

In 2007, the government introduced a compulsory deposit protection scheme as part of the Housing Act 2004 to help protect tenants...

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

“More than 1 in 3 agreed property deals in England & Wales fall through… Gazeal is a new system for property sales,...