Scottish Government to protect tenant deposits

Permalink: Scottish Government to protect tenant deposits
by Gill Montia

The Scottish Government has announced that it will be introducing a national scheme for safeguarding rent deposits.

Housing and Communities Minister, Alex Neil, says it is time to protect tenants, and support the many landlords who do deal with deposits fairly.

A group representing tenants, landlords, agents, consumer groups and housing organisations will be advising ministers on the introduction of the scheme which aims to reduce the number of wrongly withheld deposits, speed up deposit returns and ensure funds are available at the end of the tenancy.

In addition, when there is a dispute the new measures should ensure that the amount returned is determined in a fair way.

Mr Neil comments: “We know that in many cases it is students and vulnerable tenants who are affected … on the recent evidence we published on the scale and nature of this, we believe it is time to take strong action.”

Director of Shelter Scotland, Graeme Brown, adds: “With estimates of the amount of money unfairly withheld each year running into millions, Scotland is clearly in need of a way to protect tenant’s deposits.”

Tenancy deposit legislation was introduced in England in April 2007.