Call to end rent 'scam'

Tenants are losing hundreds of pounds to rip-off landlords who refuse to pay back rent deposits, a report warns today.

Almost £800 million is being held at any one time without any form of statutory protection, with one in five tenants losing all or part of their money and students being among the worst hit.

The Shelter and Citizens Advice report calls for a national scheme for tenancy deposits, which average £510.

They are backed by housing and tenancy groups, along with the Consumers' Association and 148 MPs who want the Government to introduce a mandatory Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

Shelter's Ben Jackson said: "Each year tens of thousands of people lose out to this scam and are often forced into crippling debt to pay the next deposit."