25/03/2009 - Landlords `unfairly keep deposits`
Scottish landlords may be unreasonably withholding millions of pounds of tenants` deposits, according to a Scottish Government report. It follows from claims that landlords unfairly withhold up to £6 million of deposits a year.
The report refers to evidence from England and Wales suggesting that 40% to half of complaints from tenants are unjustified, and that the landlords acted reasonably in withholding deposits.
But, it says: "If this figure was similar in Scotland then it would suggest that the actual amount of wrongly withheld deposits may be between £2.2 million and £3.6 million per annum, due to between 8,000 and 11,000 tenants." These are intended to cover rent arrears, damage to the property or its contents and any bills left unpaid after a tenant vacates the property.
The report notes that of 230,000 families and individuals that rent from a private landlord, 85% said they are either "very satisfied" or "fairly satisfied".
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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