John Stevens' letter regarding the tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme (Letters, April 28) overlooks the problem of unscrupulous landlords withholding tenants' deposits.
Last year, more than three quarters of all tenants who had money withheld claimed it was unfairly retained by their landlords.
With the average deposit now reaching £700, this is a sizeable chunk of money to lose, causing severe financial hardship and even homelessness.
The current system of challenging landlords in the courts is time consuming and costly. The new system allows disputes to be settled locally - a cheaper alternative to the courts - and provides a fast, efficient resolution to disagreements, benefiting both tenants and landlords.
The Government has consulted widely with landlord and letting agency associations to ensure the new scheme is easy to use and won't incur added expense.
The TDP will bring an end to bad practice and provide a vital safety net for tenants and landlords - which can only be a good thing.
- Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter
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