Tenancy deposit scheme (FOI)

​Request

I would like to request information on the following issues as a result of the deposit protection scheme introduced in Jersey;

A

The number of disputes raised by Qualified residents since the introduction of the mydeposit scheme in November 2015;

B

The number of disputes raised by Registered residents since the introduction of the mydeposit scheme in November 2015;

C

How many of the disputes were upheld or refused in relation to both Qualified and Registered tenants?

Response

A and B

The tenancy deposit scheme does not differentiate between ‘Entitled’ and ‘Registered’ accommodation. Whether a deposit is protected in the tenancy deposit scheme depends on whether the accommodation is defined as a ‘residential unit’ and, therefore, covered by the Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Law 2011.

C

There have been 33 disputes referred to the mydeposits Jersey dispute resolution service since the tenancy deposit scheme commenced. The outcomes of the referrals are set out in the table below. The introduction of a tenancy deposit scheme provides protection for tenants’ deposit money for the duration of a tenancy. A tenancy deposit scheme brings full transparency to the process and ensures that only reasonable deductions can be made from a deposit, in an apportionment that has been agreed by both the landlord and the tenant. This, in turn, leads to a more professional approach to the handling of deposit money.