The private rented sector's reliance on cash deposits to keep tenants in line is misguided, says industry figure.

Lisa Isaacs looks at the latest developments and thinking around the most troublesome and time-consuming aspects of lettings – tenant deposits and inventories.

But it also can make for complications when a student sharer asks for the return of a deposit, as The Property Ombudsman, Rebecca Marsh explains.

The new ‘no-deposit’ schemes offer benefits to tenants, agents and landlords alike. Richard Reed reviews what’s on offer and asks how the traditional schemes stand up against them.

Agents are conduits when it comes to cash and in a market that’s gone from bubbling to boiling point, keeping money safe is of paramount importance, says Lisa Isaacs.

Consumer organisation has gathered evidence of letting agents and landlords using underhand tactics to prevent tenants moving out of properties.

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) Katrine Sporle reviews a complaint from a landlord concerning an agent saying a tenant had paid the deposit, when no deposit had been paid.

"Landlords complained that the agent used a deposit as rental payment. Further rent payments were missed and eventually the landlords won a possession order. However, says Katrine Sporle, The Property Ombudsman, they…