#ExpertView: What is Letterbox?

#ExpertView: What is Letterbox?

Debbie Davies | 13 November 2018

In this week’s #ExpertView, our Assistant Director of Business Development, Debbie Davies takes a look inside the latest edition of TDS’s magazine, Letterbox.

What is Letterbox?

Letterbox is a member magazine published by TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme).  The magazine contains information, top tips, news and more on tenancy deposit protection and how to reduce disputes at the end of the tenancy.  TDS has produced three issues of Letterbox, all of which can be found on the TDS Insured website – take a look!

What is the latest edition of Letterbox about?

In the latest instalment of Letterbox ‘Be Proactive Not Reactive’, we take a look back at what has happened over the last few months; the production of our Deposits Deduction Template and Guide, welcoming ARLA Propertymark CEO David Cox to the TDS board, TDS Northern Ireland’s win at the ESTAS and much more!  This issue also looks at trends in the PRS (private rented sector), how TDS engages with our customers and members, how adjudications have changed over the years, upcoming TDS Academy courses and an insight into our Operations Teams in addition to tips and advice about adjudications, preparing for a new tenancy and deposit use clauses.

Why does TDS publish Letterbox?

We publish Letterbox as a way of engaging with our members, giving them an insight into TDS and providing advice to make tenancy deposit protection easy. Letterbox contains mini case studies in its ‘Ask an Adjudicator’ section outlining actual cases and how the adjudications decisions that were made. These are designed to help members ‘think like an adjudicator’ when negotiating the release of the deposit at the end of a tenancy.

There is also a competition our customers can enter, ‘#RiddleMeThis’ – take a look on the contents page to see if you can solve the riddle!  If so, you can enter the competition for a chance to win a Red Letter Days experience by following TDS on any of our social media platforms and sending your answer in a private message to us (remember, don’t post your message publicly for all to see!).

You can find us at:

Twitter: @TenancyDeposits

Facebook: /TenancyDeposits

LinkedIn: /TenancyDeposits

I hope you enjoy Letterbox and good luck for the competition.

About the author:

Debbie DaviesDebbie Davies joined TDS in July 2017 as the Assistant Director of Business Development.  She has an extensive background in the property industry with over 18 years’ experience in residential lettings. 

Debbie brings her passion for raising standards in the lettings industry into her role and is responsible for the digital marketing, advertising, communications and events management for TDS with a firm focus on business development across the TDS brand including TDS England & Wales, TDS Northern Ireland, TDS Academy and TDS Charitable Foundation.

About TDS

Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) is a Government-approved scheme for the protection of tenancy deposits; TDS offers both Insured and Custodial protection and also provides fair adjudication for disputes that arise over the tenancy deposits that we protect.

We provide invaluable training in tenancy deposit protection and disputes for agents and landlords through the TDS Academy as well as joining with MOL to provide the Technical Award in Residential Tenancy Deposits.

TDS Insured Scheme: where a TDS member can hold the tenancy deposits as stakeholder during the term of the tenancy.

TDS Custodial Scheme: where TDS hold the deposit for the duration of the tenancy.

TDS Academy: TDS provides property professionals with invaluable training in tenancy deposit protection and tenancy deposit disputes.

TDS Northern Ireland: TDS is Northern Ireland's leading and only not for profit tenancy deposit protection scheme.

TDS can only comment on the process for our scheme, other deposit protection schemes may have a different process/require different steps. Content is correct at the time of writing.

These views are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the view of TDS, its officers and employees.

ARLA|Propertymark: For agents who would like to stay up to date, you can contact Propertymark | ARLA at: join@propertymark.com. By being a member of Propertymark | ARLA you will be eligible for TDS Insured best headline rates.

RLA: If you are a landlord and would like to keep up to date with any changes that may affect you or your responsibilities, you can contact the RLA at: info@rla.org.uk and quote reference: dg715 to receive 25% off your first year's membership.


 [PB1]Is this something you can provide?

 [PB2]Amend for NI