Damage deposit

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A damage deposit or deposit is a sum of money paid in relation to a rented item to ensure it is returned in good condition. They are particularly common in relation to rented accommodation, where they may also be referred to as a tenancy deposit, bond deposit, [1] or bond.

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The owner of the item (the landlord in the case of accommodation) will take a sum of money from the person(s) renting the item (the tenant). If the item is returned in good condition at the conclusion of the tenancy the owner should return the deposit. If the item is returned with damage beyond normal wear and tear, the cost of repairing that damage may be charged against the deposit, and part (or none) of the deposit will be returned.

In some jurisdictions such as the Australian states of Victoria and Queensland [2] [3] and in New Zealand, [4] bond funds are held in trust by a government body and released upon agreement from both parties; failing accord of the two parties, an independent tribunal determines the distribution of the bond. In the United Kingdom deposits for all assured shorthold tenancies must be held in a tenancy deposit scheme, under the terms of the Housing Act 2004.

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A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, land, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant. When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner. The term landlady may be used for the female owners. The manager of a pub in the United Kingdom, strictly speaking a licensed victualler, is referred to as the landlord/landlady.

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<i>Street v Mountford</i>

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There are three tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland: the Letting Protection Service Scotland, Safedeposits Scotland and My|deposits Scotland.

In the United Kingdom a bond scheme is an alternative to a landlord taking a deposit from their tenant(s). They are usually run by councils, housing associations or charities and operate with the scheme operator guaranteeing any losses the landlord suffers due to the damage by the tenant(s). A bond scheme is not considered a deposit so it does not have to be protected in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

The Model Tenancy Act, 2019 is a proposed tenancy law by the Government of India, designed to overhaul the tenancy market in India.

References

  1. "What is Bond Cleaning?". September 2015.
  2. "RTBA". Archived from the original on 25 July 2008.
  3. "About us". Residential Tenancies Authority.
  4. "Tenancy bond information". Tenancy Services.