Landlord power can and will get Deposit Protection rules clarified

The potential implications of the ruling that a Statutory Periodic Tenancy is a new tenancy, according to the Court of Appeal ruling in Superstrike Ltd vs Rodruigues, has reverberated around the industry at lightening speed. Every popular landlord forum, blog and Facebook group has carried articles and thousands have been motivated to express concern. Indeed, my own article had over 3,000 readers and 100 comments left within just one day.

My initial reaction was one of pure panic and terror for what the implications might be. However, with time I have come to realise that once the powers that be recognise the implications of not adding further clarity to the legislation, I suspect we will receive the clarity we need.

So what is the ideal outcome we should all be hoping for?

In my opinion it needs to be confirmed that once a deposit is protected, either in a custodial or by an insured scheme, than it remains protected until such time as it is unprotected. The roll-over to a new statutory periodic tenancy is deemed to be a create a new tenancy and is seamless in terms of paperwork. Therefore, the rollover of the deposit protection and the prescribed information needs to be equally seamless and to remain valid providing it was dealt with properly within 30 days of the original fixed term tenancy being created.

Anything else would be ludicrous in my opinion. For example, if the clarification is that it is necessary to re-serve prescribed information again when a new Statutory Periodic Tenancy is created then most landlords would have to re-serve notice monthly. This is because a statutory periodic term is the payment cycle of rent which is typically every month. Thus, a new statutory periodic tenancy is created with every payment.

There may be variations on my suggested theme but as I write this article I can not think of a more logical one.

One thing is for sure and that is WE NEED CLARITY.

The Deposit Protection Providers will, no doubt, be meeting with the law makers to explain the urgent need for this clarification. Remember, their business models are in jeopardy too if landlords and letting agents all decide to stop taking deposits and find alternatives. I suspect the Council of Mortgage lenders are worried too!

Landlords and letting agents must add pressure for clarity

We can’t just leave it to the Deposit Protection Schemes, we need to make our voices heard.

I thought about starting a petition but then I decided it would be better for the industry and the press to be able to read comments from landlords and letting agents about how strongly they feel about this.

This is YOUR opportunity to have YOUR say.

Please leave a comment below and encourage all other landlords and letting agents you know to do the same

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