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Tenancy deposits campaign

Safe deposits - promoting tenancy deposit protection.

Citizens Advice has been receiving evidence about withheld rental deposits for many years, so we were delighted that following our lengthy campaign, legislation on  Tenancy deposit protection (TDP) was implemented from 6 April 2007. TDP is valid for all new tenancy agreements when a deposit is taken. The scheme will benefit over 1.5 million private tenants.

Citizens Advice and bureaux are working hard to promote the scheme to tenants and landlords alike so that they are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Background to the Tenancy deposits campaign

In 1998 Citizens Advice published Unsafe deposit, a report describing how tens of thousands of private tenants were being cheated out of millions of pounds by unscrupulous landlords. The report called then for a statutory Tenancy Deposit scheme to be set up modelled on a successful scheme already running in Australia.

Citizens Advice successfully campaigned with housing charity Shelter to get an amendment included in the Housing Bill to introduce such a scheme.

The Tenancy Deposit Protection legislation was launched on 6 April 2007. It  adds to the measures brought in to drive up standards in the private rented sector set out in Housing Act 2004. Those measures include licensing houses in multiple occupation and new safety rules.

Tenancy deposit protection in summary

More information about Tenancy deposit protection

This site will be updated as more information becomes available.