Brighton Kemptown MP Des Turner has called for tough new rules to

prevent tenants being ripped off over their deposits.

He is leading a Westminster campaign for legislation to prevent landlords unfairly holding on to the cash when tenants move out.

The Labour MP said he had been contacted by constituents complaining landlords had fabricated reasons to withhold cash.

He believed some landlords spent the cash before tenants moved on and had no intention of returning it.

Now he is calling for a compulsory deposit scheme administered by an Independent Housing Ombudsman.

Instead of paying their deposit direct to the landlord, the cash would instead go to the ombudsman.

The ombudsman would keep the cash for the duration of the tenancy and have the power to settle any disputes when people move out.

Mr Turner, who has taken up the campaign on behalf of Shelter, said: "Landlords will think of all sorts of reasons to withhold deposits.

"I think a mandatory scheme is the only way to safeguard tenants' money and guarantee any disputes, which do take place, are settled promptly."

He pointed out a voluntary pilot scheme, which took place elsewhere in the UK, had not worked because few landlords had taken part.

Research shows the rented sector accounts for about ten per cent of households in the UK.

Seven in every ten tenants are asked for a deposit, with the average payment £510. About 20 per cent of tenants claim they have had all or part of their deposits unreasonably withheld.