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As part of our mission to support letting agents and raise standards across the private rented sector, we’re proud to have partnered with The Dispute Service (The DPS) to offer a FREE training course which guides letting agents through the key principles of disputes. The course is available for all, not just safeagents.

Deposit Disputes is an online training module written by The DPS’ Head of Adjudication and is available in The DPS Training Hub section of the safeagent Virtual Learning Environment, our specialist online learning platform.

The course is available 24/7 and 365 days a year, and details the key documents landlords and letting agents should provide in order to ensure a successful outcome in the event of a dispute.

These include: a signed check-in and check-out report agreed by the tenant, date-stamped photographic evidence, plus invoices and quotations. The online course also explains key criteria adjudicators consider when deciding to award a claim, such as fair wear and tear, unfair terms, and betterment.  

Other DPS content includes an interactive adjudication case study, as well as advice on how to keep costs low by using custodial deposit protection.

Those who successfully complete the module will receive a joint safeagent and DPS e-certificate which can be put towards CPD accreditation.

·       Sign up for the course here

·       Agents who already have an account on the safeagent VLE can access the course here  

The DPS’ Top Tips for a successful claim:

·       A letting agent’s claim will stand or fall on the quality of evidence provided on the condition of the property before occupation and post-tenancy.  Always submit a signed tenancy agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of the lease.

·       A check-in and check-out inventory prepared by a professional inventory clerk is deemed to be best practice, and this should contain date-stamped photographs. However, inventories can also be compiled by letting agents themselves. A tenant should be invited to the inventory check-in and check-out to discuss any findings, and to sign the report.

·       Professional cleaning after a tenancy is not automatically assumed to be necessary, however, if one of the criteria for letting a tenant live in the house with pets is that the house is professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy, then such a clause may be regarded as valid.