Nearly 90% of students 'unaware' of Tenancy Deposit Scheme » Housing » 24dash.com

Nearly 90% of students have not heard about the Tenancy Deposit Scheme which comes into effect later this year, a new survey shows.

The new law aims to crack down on rogue landlords, with landlords across the UK having to make sure they join the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) scheme.

The scheme involves landlords who have taken a deposit from a tenant having to tell the administrator of the scheme, ensuring its protection.

But when questioned on its impact, 73% of students believed the Tenancy Deposit Scheme would reduce related malpractice.

The new survey has been carried out by Accommodation for Students (www.accommodationforstudents.com), the UK's No 1 student accommodation website.

Data for the survey has been gathered from more than 3,000 students and more than 300 landlords across the UK. 

Students rate value for money, location and safety as the top three criteria for their accommodation requirements. 81% of students rate value for money as being very important.

However, only 41% believe their current accommodation provides it. Similarly, whilst 78% of students rate safety as being very important, that factor only scores 45% for their actual current accommodation.

The research was conducted online at the end of 2006 and furnishes a comprehensive snapshot of the student rented accommodation market, covering everything from accommodation costs and specifications right down to landlord behaviour.

Rents are at their most frequently occurring level between £51 and £70 per person per week (43% of all students).

For half of students (51%) accommodation comprises more than 40% of their weekly expenditure.

Houses are the most popular form of accommodation, 57% of students living in them, except for London where nearly two-thirds of students (64%) live in a flat.

Student accommodation belies its 'Young Ones' image and most accommodation is well-appointed with the vast majority having central heating and a washing machine.

Simon Thompson, co-founder and director of Accommodation for Students, said: "Landlords generally emerge well when rated on helpfulness, trustworthiness, respect for privacy and rent collection logistics. However they don't score so well in respect of prompt attention to repairs and maintenance. A third (32%) are rated poor or very poor."

Accommodation for Students also conducted research amongst over 300 landlords and letting agents.

The student letting market is a fragmented one with 28% of landlords having only one property to rent and a further 29% two or three properties.

Landlords see rents remaining stable over the next year.

43% think rents will remain the same and 40% foresee them rising by 5%.

46% of landlords think that the current student buy-to-let market is stable but 37% believe it is over-subscribed.

Only 40% of landlords belong to a landlord association.

On legal matters, two-thirds of landlords (65%) viewed the upcoming Tenancy Deposit Scheme's introduction as negative.

Thompson concluded: "The gulf between student and landlord perceptions of the desirability of the upcoming Tenancy Deposit Scheme shows that there is work to be done to ensure that both sides recognise the benefits.

"The introduction of specialist schemes like that recently approved for the National Landlords Association should provide private landlords with just the sort of help and advice they need."