There are more than 2.5m residential properties in the rented sector in the UK
Source: The Sunday Times, July 31st 2005

Recent changes in the law means that
" It will become illegal for private landlords or non-regulated agents to hold deposits from January 2006, without being a member of a government approved scheme."
Source: Royal Institution of Chartered Sureyors (R.I.C.S.) press release 098, 23rd November 2004 (www.rics.org)

Tenants 'cheated' over deposits
Hundreds of thousands of tenants claim to have been cheated by rogue landlords who refuse to pay back their rent deposit, a survey has suggested.

A quarter of tenants have lost at least part of their deposit at the end of a tenancy in the past five years. One in seven thought the landlord right to keep their money, the Citizens Advice and Shelter survey found. Mori quizzed 2,004 people for the survey carried out on behalf of Shelter and Citizens advice.

"We must protect tenants from the cowboy landlords who ride off with their tenants' money without any concern for the hardship they cause." - Adam Sampson of Shelter
Source: www.bbc.co.uk Story from BBC news 11/05/04

Inventories
" Inventories are essential and it is recommended that an inventory is made by a professional to avoid omissions or errors. They should always be made at the start and finish of the tenancy to identify missing items, breakage’s and damages liable to be covered out of the tenant’s deposit."
Source: Association of Residential Letting Agents website (www.arla.co.uk)

Tip the odds in your favour…
" Tenants take better care of a property if they know there is an up to date inventory."
Source: BondGuard.com

Definitely not small potatoes…
" The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) estimated in a recent report that nearly £800 million of tenant’s money in Britain is being held as rental deposit, without any form of legal protection.”

One in Five
" 20% of tenants say they have had all or part of their deposit unreasonably withheld by their landlord."
Source: The Sunday Times, September 7th 2003

Oops, the wall fell down
" …it was only when she went to do the checking-out inventory that she saw most of the window recesses had bowed and caused cracks in the ceiling: indeed the ceiling had shrunk, so one window would not open.""…my advice to British Landlords? Take photos
of everything…"
Source: The Sunday Times, April 4th 2004

Grrr! Let me keep the cash
New legislation means landlords will loose control of their tenants’ deposits and all landlords must comply. The penalty for taking a deposit and keeping control of it is up to three times the deposit amount.
Source: The Sunday Times, 31st July 2005

Crackdown on 'rogue' landlords - Deposit Facts
70 per cent of 2.21 million private rented sector tenants had paid a deposit. The average deposit was around £510 and in total, deposits worth £790m are held.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk – Survey of English Housing, 29th November 2002

Of Critical Importance…
The inventory schedule of condition is considered to be a critical document in the process of renting or letting a property and helps protect tenant, agent and landlord.
Source: Association of Residential Letting Agents (A.R.L.A.) Code of Practice Website

Don’t get caught out…
" It may be a good idea to take photographs, especially when you leave the property, so that there is no dispute about the contents of the property."
Source: Swansea University Student Union Advice & Support Centre - Website (www.swansea-union.co.uk)

Demand an inventory
" Take photos at the end of the tenancy to show that the accommodation hasn't been damaged and is clean. This may help if there is a dispute with the landlord about returning your security deposit."
Source: Nottingham Trent University – Marianne Knowles