Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) provides award-winning tenancy deposit protection for letting agents and landlords. We also provide impartial adjudication for when a dispute arises relating to a tenancy deposit we hold. We offer both insured and custodial schemes.
What is tenancy deposit protection?
In 2007, the government introduced legislation requiring all assured shorthold tenancy deposits to be protected in a scheme like ours. Most privately rented residential properties use assured shorthold tenancies.
Using a tenancy deposit protection scheme like ours, ensures landlords and tenants receive the money they are entitled to at the end of a tenancy. This is done in one of two ways:
- Insured schemes: the landlord keeps the deposit but pays an insurance premium that can be used to refund the tenant at the end of the tenancy.
- Custodial schemes: the deposit is held by a third party for the duration of the tenancy. The third party administers the repayment at the end of the tenancy.
Landlords must protect deposits within 30 days of the start of a tenancy.
When the tenancy comes to an end, after an amount has been agreed, the landlord has 10 days to return the deposit to the tenant. If there is a dispute over the amount to be returned, the tenancy deposit protection scheme holding the deposit will provide a dispute resolution service.
TDS Tenancy Deposit Protection explained
We offer an insured or a custodial protection service.
The choice of scheme is entirely up to you. Both our insured scheme and custodial schemes have their own benefits.
TDS Insured
TDS Insured is the longest running tenancy deposit protection scheme in the UK. It is also the cheapest pay-as-you-go insured tenancy deposit protection scheme in England and Wales*.
You pay a small fee to protect each deposit and you keep the deposit during the tenancy and any interest accrued.
When the tenancy comes to an end, you handle the repayment. If there is a dispute over how much should be returned, we provide a free dispute resolution service.
NRLA members can access discounts through our Insured scheme by visiting https://www.nrla.org.uk/services/deposit-protection/tds.
TDS Custodial
TDS Custodial is the hassle-free way to protect your deposit. It’s completely free to use as we look after the deposit for the duration of the tenancy.
When the tenancy ends, we handle the repayment to the tenant. If there is a dispute over how much should be returned, we provide a free dispute resolution service.
Why Choose TDS
We provide outstanding service for our members and customers. We answer our calls and emails faster than any other deposit protection service in England and Wales.
We are the only not-for-profit scheme in England and Wales. We invest our surpluses into improving our multi-award-winning service.
We also provide invaluable guides and training through the TDS Academy. Guides are free for all TDS members and TDS Academy Courses are discounted for TDS members.
How to join TDS
Joining TDS free and is simple:
- Choose between insured or custodial scheme
- Create a free TDS account
- Register your deposit(s)
- Pay a small fee (insured) or transfer the deposit to us for free (custodial)