LONDON, September 18 /PRNewswire/ --     Landlords and tenants in the Private Rented Sector have become
substantially more aware of Tenancy Deposit Protection during the summer
months. Nearly two thirds of all landlords and approaching half of all
tenants are now believed to understand the mandatory requirements to protect
deposits and provide for dispute resolution. These requirements became law
last April.

This improvement is demonstrated in results from separate surveys carried
out among both letting agents and landlords during August and announced by
the Tenancy Deposit Scheme today, Tuesday 18 September.

Letting agents believe there is still a long way to go to educate the
private rented sector and that only two thirds of all landlords and less than
half of all tenants understand it. Yet this is a substantial increase and it
was gained during the holiday period. The agents survey showed that they
believe that understanding among landlords rose from 54.5% to 63% and among
tenants from a third to nearly a half.

The results from the survey of landlords were more optimistic, suggesting
that 90% are now fully aware of their mandatory obligations.

The improvement in the level of understanding comes at a time when rental
demand is growing fast and before the start of a possible upsurge in those
deposit disputes that would need Alternative Dispute Resolution. This
increase may happen from next month, six months after deposit protection
became mandatory and the first Assured Shorthold Tenancies it covers come to
an end.

However, the growth in the volume may turn out to be more gradual.
Explained Lawrence Greenberg, Chief Executive of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme,
"Although many tenancies are arranged for an initial six month period,
industry figures show that the average length of tenancies is now 18 months.
The outcome from this would be a more gradual build-up in demand for dispute
resolutions."

To be ready to meet any peaks in demand, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme
doubled the number of adjudicators from 24 to 49 and has instituted a
six-monthly appraisal and recruitment programme.

Membership of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme includes regulated agents who
are members of ARLA, the NAEA and RICS, members of other affiliated bodies
and corporate landlords, notably in the student market.

The service offered by the Scheme includes Alternative Dispute
Resolution, as required by government and is free to tenants.

The Scheme was started more than three years ago on a voluntary basis,
before becoming one of the three government-authorised schemes. "This
experience has enabled us to be ready to meet upsurges in the demand for
dispute resolution, whenever they may arrive," added Lawrence Greenberg.

Full information for landlords, tenants and agents is available on
http://www.tds.gb.com or +44-(0)845-226-7837.