Within 14 days of receiving a deposit, it must be registered with TDS and the tenant supplied with the following information:
- the contact details of The Dispute Service
- the landlord or agent’s contact details
- how to apply for the release of the deposit
- information explaining the purpose of the deposit
- what to do if there is a dispute about the deposit
We will supply all of this information to the tenant as soon as the deposit has been registered. Normally, it is possible to do this on the day the tenancy commences.
At the end of a tenancy we will inspect the property, referring to the independent inventory, and attempt to agree the basis for repayment of the deposit. If there is a dispute that cannot be resolved, either party can instigate The Dispute Service to provide for the case to be dealt with by an Independent Case Examiner (ICE) who is a qualified, impartial expert and who aims to resolve disputes quickly and fairly without the need for court action. This must be done within 28 working days of the tenancy ending and the ICE must be sent the following:
- The signed tenancy agreement
- Inventory and schedule of condition for both check in and check out procedures
- Evidence that the claimant has tried to negotiate a settlement
- Tenancy registration number and details
Within 10 working days, the deposit (less any amount agreed by the parties and already paid over to the tenant) must be handed over to TDS for safe keeping until the dispute is resolved. If for any reason, the landlord fails to comply, the insurance arrangements will ensure the return of the deposit to the tenant if they are entitled to it.
