As England prepares for the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, it does so in the shadow of Scotland’s earlier reforms. Since 2017, Scotland has introduced open-ended tenancies and abolished no-fault evictions – offering a valuable case study in how housing policy changes play out in practice.

The Tenancy Dispute Service’s goal is that every tenant feels confident their deposit is protected and that they will be treated fairly when their tenancy ends. To support that aim, we are launching new research to explore tenants’ experiences of our service when they have problems getting their deposit back. This includes tenants who have used our free dispute resolution services and those who chose to handle disputes in other ways.

New analysis from Northern Ireland’s leading independent provider of specialist housing advice, Housing Rights, reveals deepening pressures on private renters across Northern Ireland.