Review legal costs of landlords breaching tenancy deposit law — 9 signatures. Status: open.
Following breaches of tenancy deposit laws, prohibit courts from ordering landlords to pay legal costs or court fees. We believe landlords should only be made to protect or return deposits if there are inadvertent breaches.
Tenants deserve secure deposits and effective remedies. Landlords deserve equal treatment and a fair chance to correct an honest mistake. Missing the 30-day deadline can lead to a court penalty of one to three times the deposit even after it is repaid. The landlord may then face substantial legal costs, creating pressure to settle for much more. A balanced law should protect the tenant, sanction the breach once and prevent additional costs after a deposit penalty is imposed.
View this petition on the official UK Parliament website