New scheme to protect people from dodgy landlords must be user-friendly and effective

Every year the Law Society estimates that thousands of tenants lose out because greedy landlords refuse to return their cash. And so it is good that, at last, the Government has given a commitment to set-up a national tenancy deposit scheme.The Law Society has campaigned hard for this reassurance for tenants. Twenty percent of tenants claim their landlords have unreasonably withheld their deposits.Janet Paraskeva, Law Society Chief Executive, says;"It means that tenants will now be more certain that they will not be ripped off by rogue landlords. But any new scheme must be workable, simple and inexpensive for tenants to use and have simple procedures that offer prompt redress. "We hope to discuss the design of the scheme with Government. It is good that the Government has at last acted to protect thousands of tenants. Honest landlords have nothing to fear. This scheme will be re-balance the relationship between tenants and landlords. It will avoid tenants having to pursue landlords through the small claims court."