It has come to our attention that many agents are still not providing all the necessary prescribed information to tenants on the registration of deposits under the various tenancy deposit protection schemes. Section 213(5) of HA 2004 requires that the tenant is given such information as may be prescribed. Section 216(b) requires that this is given within 14 days of the receipt of the deposit. There is still a lot of debate as to whether there is any penalty for the giving this information late.
The information required to be handed over is set out by the Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007. Provision of the tenancy agreement and the information certificate supplied by all of the schemes will satisfy most f the requirements of this Order. However paragraph 2(1)(b) requires the provision of
any information contained in a leaflet supplied by the scheme administrator to the landlord which explains the operation of the provisions contained in sections 212 to 215 of, and Schedule 10 to, the Act
Both the insured schemes (TDS & MyDeposits) provide such leaflets and they must be passed on to the tenant to comply with the terms of the Order. This provision is frequently being ignored but failure to fulfil it properly may lead to the usual penalties being applied.
You have been warned!
Filed under: Uncategorized, deposits, Housing Act 2004
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