Research carried out by Safe Deposits Scotland has found that 55.8% of tenants have no idea that they can challenge deductions made from their deposit by a landlord. The study also found that 36.4% don’t know how to claim their deposit back, which is a bit worrying.
Landlords are increasingly using a variety of tools at their disposal to check up on potential tenants before they offer them a tenancy agreement. A study by a leading home loans company has found that 11% of landlords use Facebook to screen would-be tenants before they let them move in.
Nottingham landlords with HMOs are facing rising costs. The price of a landlord licence for properties with more than four tenants in occupation is set to rise by £420. Landlords who are ‘less compliant’ will have to pay even more.
Sex for rent is one of the more distasteful elements of the current rental housing crisis. Some landlords are offering free accommodation in return for sexual favours. A recent BBC investigation found some landlords were advertising for tenants to provide sexual services in return for free rent.
Landlords are required to place a tenant’s deposit in a deposit protection scheme for the duration of a tenancy. When the tenant leaves, the deposit is handed back, but if there are any issues, a landlord can withhold some or all of the money. The Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS), a government-backed service, has revealed the reasons why deposits are withheld by landlords.
