Deposit rules flouted by landlords

News Category: Legal

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Landlords are not abiding by regulations to protect tenants' deposits and are placing themselves at risk of fines, a new survey has shown.

According to a survey of landlords conducted by the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), 62 per cent of landlords questioned said they had knowingly flouted the rule that compels them to be registered with a tenancy deposit scheme.

Of those who had registered 18 per cent were with the DPS, while 14 per cent had chosen another scheme.

The remaining six per cent claimed they were not aware of the legal requirement.

Kevin Firth, client services director for the DPS, said: "Fifteen months after legislation was introduced, there is no excuse for failing to properly protect your tenants' deposits.

"Landlords need to understand that failing to register a deposit is quite simply an unlawful act. There are no two ways about it, and ignorance is no defence."

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