Guides
Please select a topic.
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How to get your deposit back
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Custodial: How to request repayment of the deposit (landlords & agents) Download
A screen-by-screen guide to the repayment process.
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Custodial: How to request repayment of the deposit (tenants) Download
A screen-by-screen guide to the repayment process.
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Insured: How to respond to a dispute (landlords & agents) Download
A screen-by-screen guide to responding to a dispute.
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Deposit protection
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How does TDS NI deal with tenancies involving multiple landlords/tenants? Download
Renting with joint tenants or multiple landlords can be complicated. This guide helps tenants and landlords in this situation with deposit protection and disputes through TDS Northern Ireland.
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Joint scheme guide Download
A guide to deposits disputes and damages: a comprehensive guide to deposit protection, written and published by all three of the schemes
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How to protect a Custodial deposit Download
A screen-by-screen guide to protecting a Custodial deposit.
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Scheme Leaflet: What is the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Northern Ireland? Download
An advisory leaflet for landlords and tenants. This leaflet forms part of the Prescribed Information, which landlords must give to tenants within 35 days [on or after the 1 April 2023] of receiving the deposit.
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DfC Advice on moving home during Covid-19 Download
A guidance document from the Department of Communities on moving home during Covid-19.
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Inventory Guides
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Guide to check in & check out reports, inventories & schedules of condition Download
However well a tenant looks after their property, it will not be in the same condition at the end of the tenancy as it was at its start. Wear and tear to carpets, flooring, and other fixtures, fittings and decorations will, inevitably, have taken place. Even well looked after contents will deteriorate with time and use. Landlords need to allow for fair wear and tear during a tenancy.
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End of tenancy
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Deposit disputes
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Guidance on using photos, videos and DVDs as evidence Download
Images can be a useful way of showing the condition of a property. However images usually need to be supported by other evidence and can throw up practical problems when submitting to TDS Northern Ireland.
Read this useful guide before submitting visual evidence in a dispute.
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How the adjudicator approaches disputes involving cleaning Download
Cleaning is one of the most common reasons for disputes over deposits. Read this guide to find out how the adjudicator approaches the disputes and how to improve the case you make.
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How the dispute resolution mechanism works Download
A guide on the free impartial adjudication service provided by TDS Northern Ireland, called the Dispute Resolution Mechanism.
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How TDS Northern Ireland approaches disputes involving damage Download
Here are some key principles in disputes over damage and missing items.
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How TDS Northern Ireland approaches disputes involving redecoration Download
Here are some key principles to consider when presenting a case involving redecoration, including the best evidence to provide and how the adjudicator makes their decision.
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How to present your case to the TDS Northern Ireland adjudicator Download
This is a detailed guide on how best to present your tenancy deposit dispute.
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Check-in & Check-out Reports, Inventories & Schedules of Condition Guide Download
What TDS looks for in check in and check out reports, inventories, and schedules of condition.
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Rules and regulations
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TDSNI Scheme Rules (May 2018) Download
Fourth edition of our scheme rules, effective to all participants from May 2018.
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Penalties for failing to comply with tenancy deposit protection regulations Download
It is a legal requirement for tenancy deposits held against private tenancies to be protected in a government approved scheme. These are the penalties faced by landlords for failing to comply.
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TDS Northern Ireland complaints procedure (September 2017) Download
Please read this guide if you are unhappy with the service you have received at TDS Northern Ireland or with the decision of one of our adjudicators.
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TDS Northern Ireland Prescribed Information template - Custodial Download
Prescribed Information template for deposits held in the TDS Northern Ireland custodial scheme.
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TDS Northern Ireland Prescribed Information template - Insured Download
Prescribed Information template for deposits protected in the TDS Northern Ireland insured scheme.
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Joint Ministerial Communiqueě on Letting Agency Fees Download
Joint Ministerial Communiqueě on Letting Agency Fees - March 2020
Information relating to the issue of letting agents’ fees, and the judgment given in December 2017 that fees should not be passed on to tenants for services that a letting agent carries out on behalf of a landlord.
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A Guide to the Northern Ireland Tenancy Deposit Legislation Download
An updated guide to the regulations of tenancy deposit protection in Northern Ireland has been put together by Steve Harriott, CEO of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Northern Ireland. The latest guide builds on the previous edition with a detailed section relating to the regulations of tenancy deposit protection in Northern Ireland, together with a running commentary.
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Click here to read our Adjudication Digests
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The Adjudicator: Missing Keys Download
This case study is concerned with the return of the keys to a property. The agents and tenants had carried out a pre-check out inspection, in which the tenant was advised that all was well with the property. The agent advised the tenant, on the last day of the tenancy, they would be able to get their deposit back without deductions.
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The Adjudicator: Reporting Damage Download
In this case, the landlord claimed the full deposit, £750.00, for a number of different items with varying levels of evidence to support each deduction. The adjudicator was faced with a complex combination of factors to consider in deciding responsibility.
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#TheAdjudicator: To clean or not to clean… Download
In this case, the landlord wanted to keep the tenant’s deposit because the décor in the flat had been damaged during the tenancy by mould; this needed to be wiped clean and repainted.
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Statistical Briefings
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Northern Ireland Statistical Briefing 2017-18 Download
This briefing contains key statistics on tenancy deposit protection issues in Northern Ireland.
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Statistical Briefing - UK Tenancy Deposit Statistics 2017-18 Download
This briefing contains key statistics on tenancy deposit protection issues in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Statistical Briefing 2019-20 Download
This briefing contains key statistics on tenancy deposit protection issues in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 2019-20.
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Statistical Briefing 2019-20 - A4 Printable Download
This briefing contains key statistics on tenancy deposit protection issues in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 2019-20.
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Deposit deductions template
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Deposit deductions template Download
We recommend that this document is used when a landlord wishes to make a deduction from the deposit at the end of the tenancy. It is designed to allow for the transparent exchange of information between the parties and to help resolution at an early stage. If TDS NI is asked to resolve any dispute, the information can be used as part of the evidence submission.
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Guidance to using deposit deductions template Download
A guide to using the TDSNI deposit deductions template.
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Letterbox magazine
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Letterbox magazine - Issue 1 Download
Click here to read issue 1 or TDS' member magazine, Letterbox.
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Letterbox magazine - Issue 2 Download
Click here to read issue 2 or TDS' member magazine, Letterbox.
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Letterbox magazine - Issue 3 Download
Our Letterbox Magazine, launched in Autumn 2016, brings news and guidance to our members on all-things tenancy deposits.
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Letterbox magazine - Issue 4 Download
Our Letterbox Magazine, launched in Autumn 2016, brings news and guidance to our members on all-things tenancy deposits.
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Letterbox magazine - Issue 7 Download
Our Letterbox Magazine, launched in Autumn 2016, brings news and guidance to our members on all-things tenancy deposits.
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Letterbox Magazine - Issue 9 - A Helping Hand Download
Read issue 9 of the TDS Letterbox magazine here.
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Annual Review
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Annual Review 2017-18 Download
Our latest Annual Review contains statistics on deposit protection and dispute resolution, providing specific data for both our Insured scheme and Custodial scheme, as well as TDS Northern Ireland and SafeDeposits Scotland. The Annual Review also contains our performance statistics for the year and some top tips for landlords and agents as we continue to promote best practice in the lettings industry.
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