D-Day for GBP100,000 AST Threshold

LONDON, September 15, 2010 - D-Day for the rise in the threshold to GBP100,000 for Assured Shorthold
Tenancies in England is less than a month away. To assist with the change,
the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has issued detailed guidance notes for
registration of these tenancies from October 1 to help avoid the prospect of
legal action against agents and their landlords.

The guidance takes account of the opinions of the Dept of Communities and
Local Government, DCLG, that the increase in the threshold will effect new
tenancies and tenancies that are renewed or where a new deposit is taken
after October 1; and that existing tenancies with a rental value of between
GBP25,000 and GBP100,000 a year should also be registered.

As well as registering the tenancies with a rental value up to the new
threshold, tenants, also, must be provided with the same legally prescribed
information and tenancy clauses in agreements as they would expect with all
other ASTs.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme will continue to provide dispute resolution
arising from existing non-AST tenancies where the tenancy agreements and
terms of business contain clauses from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme for
Regulated Agents, TDSRA.

TDSRA, itself, will cease to operate on October 1 as the TDS believes
resources should be focused on disputes that fall under the deposit
protection legislation. However, the Independent Case Examiner may agree to
resolve disputes over the allocation of deposits relating to non-ASTs that
are created or renewed after October 1.

The new TDS Guidance Notes for the increased rent threshold and for
dealing with non- Assured Shorthold Tenancies take account of the latest
views of the DCLG. These Notes are available under Frequently Asked Questions
on the TDS website, www.thedisputeservice.co.uk

Media contact: Malcolm Harrison +44(0)20-7581-8335