Less than 1% of tenancies in Britain in the private rented sector end in a dispute over the tenancy deposit, the latest annual statistical briefing report shows.
It is the eighth year in a row that disputes arising from deposits have been below 1%, according to the report from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).
Published every year, TDS’s statistical briefings pull together information from a variety of sources including Freedom of Information (FOI) data and statistics gathered by the not-for-profit organisation.
There is a low level of disputes across all three Government backed deposit protection schemes. Of the 3.7 million tenancy deposits currently held, only 31,865 ended in disputes in the year to March 2018.
For the sixth year running, cleaning is the most common contributing factor to tenancy deposit disputes and was cited in 54% of all disputes adjudicated in 2017/2018, followed bu 49% citing damage, 31% decoration, 20% rent arrears and 16% gardening.
The report also shows that since 2010, there has been a 26% rise in the average deposit value for England and Wales from £880 to £1,110, but the report notes that these figures do not show regional variations.
TDS’ sister organisation, TDS Northern Ireland (TDSNI) also released its statistical briefing and demonstrates differences between the sectors in both regions. For example, in Northern Ireland, the average deposit has remained relatively stable, sitting at £587 in 2018, just over half the average value for England and Wales.
‘As the private rented sector and the need for robust deposit protection continues to grow, as it has done over the last decade and more, it’s important to take stock of where we are and look for trends,’ said TDS chief executive Steve Harriott.
‘Despite the number of tenancy deposits protected increasing by over 300% in the last ten years, the rates of disputes have remained regularly below 1%. That means the overwhelming majority of tenancies end in agreement between the tenant and the landlord or letting agent about how the deposit is awarded,’ he pointed out.
‘It’s unsurprising to see cleaning remain as the number one reason for disputes due to its subjectivity – what might seem clean to one party could be viewed differently by another,’ he explained.
‘Our annual statistical briefing brings to light interesting trends from the private rented sector, but also highlights the performance of TDS. It’s vitally important to us that we have the trust of everyone in the private rented sector and transparency is central to this,’ he added.
