Tenants in the private rental sector will soon benefit from a Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) scheme set up to give them greater security and peace of mind.

The scheme, which will be launched nationally on 6 April, will also provide a faster, cheaper and fairer way of settling any disputes over the return of deposits.

Landlords entering into new tenancy agreements after 6 April will be required to place any deposit within a government-authorised scheme. This will safeguard the money and offer independent adjudication in the event of any dispute.

Tenants who have kept their rented property in good condition can be confident that they will not have all or part of their deposit withheld on suprious grounds, which tends to be a common complaint made by tenants.

The Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme will apply to all assured shorthold tenancies in England and Wales where a deposit is taken. Virtually all new contracts to let a property are assured shorthold tenancies.

The scheme will add to the measures set out in the Housing Act 2004 to drive up standards in the private rented sector, which included licensing multiple occupancy homes and new safety rules.

For more information visit www.tenancydeposit.gov.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/tenancydeposit