Plan to protect tenants

By Leah Simpson
Posted: 2009/05/22

A SCHEME to protect deposits on rented properties could soon be introduced in Scotland amid concerns that landlords are unfairly withholding millions of pounds from tenants every year.

The Scottish Government yesterday announced action to improve the system in the private rented sector to help prevent tenants being ripped off.

Among the proposals to be examined include the establishment of a national deposit scheme to help resolve disputes, similar to that set up in England and Wales two years ago.

Landlords can retain some or all of a deposit in cases where the property or its contents is damaged or bills are unpaid. But in March a study into the private rented sector found tenants believe landlords wrongly withhold up to £6million from deposits every year.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said they had long campaigned for a tenancy deposit scheme. He added: "We are confident putting this under the microscope will highlight the swift need for such a scheme."

Housing minister Alex Neil said: "This Government shares the concerns about unfairly withheld tenancy deposits and I want to quickly resolve this issue."