SafeDeposits Scotland - New Scheme to Protect Landlords and Tenants to Gift Surpluses to Charity

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SafeDeposits Scotland - New Scheme to Protect Landlords and Tenants to Gift Surpluses to Charity PR Newswire GLASGOW, Scotland, June 11, 2012 GLASGOW, Scotland, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scottish Government has granted a licence to SafeDeposits Scotland to run nda tenancy deposit scheme in Scotland. From 2 July 2012 landlords in receipt of a tenancy deposit will have to transfer the deposit to a licensed operator, such as SafeDeposits Scotland, to ensure they are securely held and that any dispute about their eventual return is resolved quickly by an independent party Chaired by Sir Andrew Cubie CBE, SafeDeposits Scotland is unique among scheme providers in that it is a partnership of Scottish landlord, agent and tenant organisations, backed by an experienced provider already operating in England. Unlike other operators, SafeDeposits Scotland is a n o t - f o r - p r o f i t o r g a n i s a t i o n and any s u r p l u s e s generated will be gift aided to its sister charity, SafeDeposits Scotland Trust. This charity will be a grant-giving charity designed to promote education, training and best practice in the private rented sector in Scotland. Malcolm Lindo, Managing Director of SafeDeposits Scotland, said: "We are delighted to have received our licence to operate a tenancy deposit scheme in ndScotland. We now have our sights on the next milestone, 2 July 2012, when we will be able to receive landlords' property details and start protecting deposits.

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• Publié par: safedeposits-scotland
• Nombre de lectures: 20
• Langue: English

Extrait

SafeDeposits Scotland - New Scheme to

Protect Landlords and Tenants to Gift

Surpluses to Charity

PR Newswire

GLASGOW, Scotland, June 11, 2012

GLASGOW, Scotland

,

June 11, 2012

/PRNewswire/ --

The Scottish Government has granted a licence to SafeDeposits Scotland to run

a tenancy deposit scheme in

Scotland

. From 2

nd

July 2012

landlords in receipt

of a tenancy deposit will have to transfer the deposit to a licensed operator,

such as SafeDeposits Scotland, to ensure they are securely held and that any

dispute about their eventual return is resolved quickly by an independent party

Chaired by Sir Andrew Cubie CBE, SafeDeposits Scotland is unique among

scheme providers in that it is a partnership of Scottish landlord, agent and

tenant organisations, backed by an experienced provider already operating in

England

.

Unlike other operators, SafeDeposits Scotland is a

not-for-profit

organisation

and any

surpluses

generated will be gift aided to its sister

charity, SafeDeposits Scotland Trust. This charity will be a grant-giving charity

designed to promote education, training and best practice in the private rented

sector in Scotland.

Malcolm Lindo, Managing Director of SafeDeposits Scotland, said: "We are

delighted to have received our licence to operate a tenancy deposit scheme in

Scotland

. We now have our sights on the next milestone, 2

nd

July 2012

, when

we will be able to receive landlords' property details and start protecting

deposits."

Sarah Speirs, director, RICS Scotland, commented, "RICS Scotland welcomes

the news that SafeDeposits Scotland has been granted a licence by the Scottish

Government. As a professional organisation with a royal charter to act in the

best interests of the public, RICS consider that stronger regulation of the

private rented sector is to be welcomed and that this Tenancy Deposit Scheme

will prove clarity, transparency and fairness to both tenants and landlords who

access it."

Ian Potter, Operations Manager at ARLA, said, "We decided to become involved

due to the fact that we were involved with The Dispute Service in

England

and

wanted to demonstrate the same level of support for our Scottish members as

we had done in

England

&

Wales

. We believe SafeDeposits will use all the

experience garnered over the last 5 years, and in particular the last 2 years, to

operate an effective scheme for the agents, landlords and tenants in the

Private Rented Sector."

John Ferguson, Director of Development and Programmes, Scottish Council for

Voluntary Organisations, said, "Most landlords and tenants act fairly but where

unscrupulous behaviour exists SafeDeposits will put a stop to it. Better still, the

Safe Deposits Scotland Trust will put any surpluses to public good by promoting

education, training and best practice in

Scotland's

private rented sector. It

really is a win-win all around."

Robin Parker, President, NUS Scotland, said, "Tenants, including many students,

have waited a long time for a scheme that will protect their tenancy deposits

from the small minority of landlords that unfairly deduct or withhold their

deposits. Safe Deposits Scotland will therefore not only be good for tenants, but

also reward the good landlords and, in time, raise money for good causes in

Scotland

- a win, win I'm sure all will agree."

Bob Doris MSP, Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Housing, said: "I am

delighted that the first providers of tenancy deposit schemes as licensed by the

Scottish Government are now gearing up to take on their duties from this July.

It is commendable that this service will afford greater protection for tenants. It

will also be achieved without any additional cost to either tenant or landlord, as

well as creating an independent dispute resolution system when needed. It is

expected that when there is no dispute between tenant and landlord that

deposits will be returned within 5 working days. I believe this has the prospect

of being an excellent service."

Steve Harriott: Director of SafeDeposits and Chief Executive of The Dispute

Service, said, "We are delighted that SafeDeposits has now been granted its

licence. It's the only not for profit tenancy deposit scheme in

Scotland

and is

controlled by directors with the interests of Scottish landlords and tenants at

heart. We fully expect it to be a great success."

Notes to editors:

1. SafeDeposits Scotland is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, with

its members being:

Scottish Association of Landlords

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

National Federation of Property Professionals

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

National Union of Students Scotland

The Dispute Service Ltd

2. In

March 2011

, the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (

Scotland

) Regulations 2011

came into force, and from 2

nd

July 2012

landlords in receipt of a tenancy

deposit will have to transfer the deposit to a licenced operator, one of which

is SafeDeposits Scotland. At the end of the tenancy, if the tenant

disputes any deductions proposed by the landlord, the landlord must provide

documentary evidence showing why a deduction is justified.

Web: http://www.Safedepositsscotland.com