§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulation of the deposit scheme for people who rent property in the private sector. [46081]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe are concerned about the problem of tenants' rental deposits being withheld unreasonably by landlords at the end of tenancies. We are currently looking at legislation operating overseas to see whether there is an appropriate model for dealing with those problems. But we will need to be satisfied that any new requirements would not deter reputable small landlords, or potential landlords, and that they would achieve a fair balance between the interests of tenants and landlords.