RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SEARCH

Letting agents have praised the effectiveness of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in helping to facilitate resolution of disputes between tenants and property managers over the return of deposits. According to a survey conducted by the Dispute Service, nine out of ten letting agents have reported their satisfaction with the method for submitting evidence for adjudication under the government-led scheme.Satisfaction levels among tenants and landlords were similarly high, standing at 85 per cent and 80 per cent respectively, while more than four in five letting agents also said they were pleased by the clarity and style of the final adjudication reports.Mike Morgan, head of adjudication for the scheme, said it has been designed to make the dispute resolution process "short, sweet and to the point". "These results are a pleasing vindication of the work we have put into simplifying the evidence process and in making our reports to disputing parties clear [and] concise," he added. The Dispute Service was awarded the contract to run the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in 2007, as part of provisions for the protection of tenancy deposits in the 2004 Housing Act.