Tenancy Deposit Protection

Tenancy deposit protection (TDP) schemes guarantee that tenants will get their deposits back at the end of the tenancy, if they meet the terms of the tenancy agreement and do not damage the property.

Landlords must protect their tenants' deposits using a TDP scheme if they have let the property on an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) which started after 6 April 2007.

The schemes:

• encourage landlords and tenants to draw up clear tenancy agreements
• provide a free service to resolve disputes.

Landlords or agents must use one of the three government approved TDP schemes to protect tenants' deposits where these conditions apply. The three approved schemes are:

Custodial scheme

• Deposit Protection Service (DPS)

Insurance based schemes

• My Deposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

Tenants can expect a decision as to how much of their deposit is going to be returned to them within ten days from the end of the tenancy. Any part of the deposit kept back at this stage will remain protected in the scheme being used until such time as any dispute is resolved. The exact arrangements depend on the type of scheme used.

Unipol and TDS Deposit Protection Scheme

Unipol runs a bespoke student TDP scheme with the Dispute Service, who run the Tenancy Deposit Scheme which is one of the insurance based schemes (see above). This scheme is designed especially with the needs of student landlords in mind and is available exclusively to Unipol Code landlords.

The main benefits of using this scheme are:

• no registration fee to use the site
• low cost fees for each tenancy you protect
• keep the deposit for the duration of the tenancy meaning returning the deposit is under your control
• access to a fast disputes panel administered by Unipol

The scheme is administered online using the TDS website, which is accessed through the Owners Administration System. Here you can register details of the property and tenancy agreement as well as your tenants and either make the payment online or arrange to pay in a Unipol office.

In addition, a host of other benefits include:

• Amend details at no extra cost, whether a tenant leaves or another tenant joints a tenancy you can add them to the protection at no extra cost, so long as it is within the protection period of up to 12 months
• Protect the deposit when you receive it so any uncertainty about when it is a deposit is removed - as tenants pay their share, protect it and add to it as money is paid
• Paper free certificates e-mailed straight to you so that you can simply forward to your tenants
• Reminder e-mails that your tenancy is close to ending or if you have forgotten to complete the protection of a tenancy.

For details of the complaints procedure and to make a complaint please click here.