Overview for Tenants
Many tenants in the private sector give their landlords a deposit against possible non-payment of rent or damage to property. When a tenancy comes to an end, there is usually no disagreement about the return of the deposit. But sometimes there is, and this can cause much hardship and inconvenience to both landlord and tenant.
The Housing Act 2004 (Chapter 4, sections 212-5; & Schedule 10) makes provision for both the protection of tenancy deposits and the resolution of disputes over their return. The Dispute Service has been awarded a contract by the Government to run one such scheme: The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).
The legislation came into effect on 6 April 2007. After that date all deposits taken for Assured Shorthold Tenancies should have been covered by a tenancy deposit protection scheme.
What is the TDS tenancy certificate code?
The tenancy code is a unique code we use to identity your tenancy. When you moved into the property or signed your tenancy agreement your landlord or agent should have given you a TDS tenancy deposit certificate with this code on it. The tenancy code typically looks something like this: phsQtY6
Guide to Tenancy Deposit, Disputes and Damages
Since the introduction of tenancy deposit protection legislation in 2007, millions of deposits totalling billions of pounds have been protected via the three government approved deposit protection schemes. Each scheme has worked hard to enhance and augment the service it provides to tenants, letting agents and landlords, helping to meet the original aim of the legislation: to raise the standards in the letting industry. These guidelines for dispute resolution are yet another milestone along that path - providing a transparent and consistent approach to dispute resolution by all three schemes, for the benefit of everyone in the private rented sector.
All three deposit protection providers have signed up to the guidelines in this document, and will continue to operate their dispute resolution services using these principles. They will be reviewed and updated as necessary, to reflect current methodology and best practice.
