14 July 2010

Advice on how to make a fair judgement call at the end of the tenancy period.

With so much confusion among the landlord community about the rules surrounding fair wear and tear, the leading government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme, my|deposits, has created a guide for landlords, offering advice on how to make a fair judgement call at the end of the tenancy period.

Although the topic of wear and tear is subjective and there are no hard and fast rules on what is ‘reasonably acceptable’, the my|deposits ‘Wear & Tear – when is it fair’ guide aims to help landlords consider and weigh up the different factors involved in the decision-making process. The guide also highlights the importance of communication between landlord and tenant, particularly at the outset of the tenancy, when the landlord can set expectations of the tenants and the final condition of the property. After all, there are clear and direct financial consequences for both landlord and tenant should a dispute arise at the end of the tenancy.

The my|deposits guide explores a number of different areas from the length of the tenancy period and the occupants themselves, to looking at the difference between wear and tear and actual damage to property.

Eddie Hooker, Chief Executive of mydeposits.co.uk said, “Wear and tear is always a hot topic of debate and is very much situation-dependent. We have worked with landlords and our in-house disputes team to compile the guide, which is by no means definitive, but hopefully gives landlords some benchmarks and examples to consider when checking out their tenants.”

To see the full guide, click here.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact the team at Spreckley Partners:

Nathalie Ballantine/Lena Keolian
E: lastname@spreckley.co.uk
T: 020 7388 9988

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About mydeposits.co.uk:

Mydeposits is the trading name of Tenancy Deposit Solutions Limited, a company jointly owned by the National Landlords Association and HFIS plc T/A Hamilton Fraser Insurance (the Scheme Administrator) to deliver an insurance-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme under contract from Communities & Local Government. Landlords and letting agents wishing to use this scheme are required to register with the Scheme Administrator. They can find out more and register by visiting www.mydeposits.co.uk. Registered members of the Scheme are able to protect and unprotect deposits at the beginning and end of tenancies. Fees are tax-deductible. In the event of a dispute at the end of the tenancy agreement, both parties are offered access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR). This procedure will be evidence-based, relying on documentation and records.

About CEDR Solve:

CEDR Solve, the UK’s leading commercial mediation provider, is CEDR’s dispute resolution and prevention service and has managed over 16,000 dispute enquiries covering every industry sector and a wide-raging cross section of disputes and case values. Case studies are available on CEDR’s website – www.cedrsolve.com.

CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) is the leader in the development of neutral-assisted dispute resolution. It is a non-profit organisation and its mission is to encourage and develop cost effective dispute prevention and dispute resolution in commercial and public sector disputes and in civil litigation. CEDR operates in the UK and internationally and has been instrumental in helping to bring mediation into the heart of business practice and into the judicial system. CEDR Mediator Accreditation is recognised as an international standard.