Deposits of private renters are held in the government backed Tenancy Deposit Scheme. A significant amount of money has accumulated from unclaimed tenant’s deposits since the scheme was launched in 2007. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme now intends to donate this money to charities that provide education and training to improve standards of behaviour and practice among private landlords and tenants.

While we welcome the news that this money will fund training and education, we believe that a large portion should be donated to charities and other organisations, like Shelter or the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux, which provide advice and support to private renters. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme should also look into making the money available to the rising number of private tenants organisations in London and across the country.

London’s housing crisis has seen a rise in tenants paying large sums of money for sub-standard accommodation. This money, which after all comes from the pockets of private tenants to, should be used to help renters in crisis and actively encourage tenants to get organised and know their rights.

Cllr Alice Perry, Labour & Islington Private Tenants