Tenancy Deposit Scheme: review

Annex C: questionnaires

Tenant questionnaire

1. It would be useful for us to know how you heard about the survey - please provide brief details below.

2. Which of the following best describes your living situation?

• Rent from a private landlord (including through a letting agency)
• Rent from a council/local authority/housing association or other registered social landlord
• Rent from someone else
• Own home or buying it with the help of a mortgage/loan
• Live rent-free in another person's property

3. Do you have a single or joint tenancy?

• Single tenancy
• Joint tenancy
• Do not have a tenancy agreement

4. When did your tenancy start?

5. Is your tenancy managed by a letting agent?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

6. How much do you agree or disagree with the following?

Rows

• I know enough about the purpose of Tenancy Deposit Schemes in Scotland
• I know enough about how the Tenancy Deposit Schemes in Scotland work

Columns

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

7. Was a deposit paid at the beginning of your current tenancy?

• Yes - to the landlord Yes - to the letting agent
• Yes - to someone else (please use the box below to tell us who) No
• Don't know
• Someone else

8. Who paid your deposit?

• I/my household did
• A relative or friend
• My employer
• My educational institute
• Another organisation

9. Is your deposit being protected by one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes?

This involves your landlord or letting agent lodging your deposit with one of the three schemes in Scotland (Letting Protection Service Scotland, MyDeposits Scotland, SafeDeposits Scotland). The scheme holds the deposit and deals with returning it when your tenancy ends.

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

10. Do any of the following apply to you or your tenancy? Please select all that apply

• The tenancy is less than 30 days old My landlord is a family member
• I have an agricultural or crofting tenancy The property is a holiday home
• The property is supported accommodation
• The property is used by a religious organisation The property is subject to a control order
• The tenancy is a "life rent"
• The property is in transitory ownership (repossession by a mortgage lender, executors dealing with a deceased person's estate, etc)
• None of the above

11. Have you asked for your deposit to be protected?

• Yes - my landlord
• Yes - the letting agent
• Yes - the First Tier Tribunal
• Yes - asked someone else (please specify)
• No, I haven't raised it with anyone
• Don't know/Can't remember
• Someone else

12. Why have you not asked for your tenancy deposit to be protected?

Please select all that apply

• Did not know that tenancy deposits had to be protected
• Did not know who to speak to about this
• Worried about how my landlord/letting agent would react to the request
• Was not concerned about the deposit not being protected
• Other (please write in below)

13. When you asked for your deposit to be protected, what response did you receive?

Please select all that apply

• The landlord said they would protect the deposit, but haven't yet
• The letting agent said they would protect the deposit, but haven't yet
• I was told that that they did not need to protect my deposit
• I haven't received any response yet
• Other (please write in below)

14. Are you planning on doing any of the following?

Please select all that apply

• Take it to the First Tier tribunal
• Report it to someone else (please use the box below to tell us who)
• Don't plan on doing anything else
• Please write in below

13. When you asked for your deposit to be protected, what response did you receive?

Please select all that apply

• The landlord said they would protect the deposit, but haven't yet
• The letting agent said they would protect the deposit, but haven't yet
• I was told that that they did not need to protect my deposit
• I haven't received any response yet
• Other (please write in below)

14. Are you planning on doing any of the following?

Please select all that apply

• Take it to the First Tier tribunal
• Report it to someone else (please use the box below to tell us who)
• Don't plan on doing anything else
• Please write in below

15. Was your deposit protected within 30 days of your tenancy starting?

• Yes
• No
• The tenancy is less than 30 days old
• Don't know/Can't remember

16. Did you have to take any of the following actions to get your deposit protected?

• Ask my landlord
• Ask my letting agent
• Ask someone else
• Open a case with the First Tier Tribunal
• Something else
• I didn't take any action

17. Which Tenancy Deposit Scheme is protecting your deposit?

• Letting Protection Service Scotland
• MyDeposits Scotland
• SafeDeposits Scotland
• Don't know/Can't remember

18. Have you received any of the following information on the Tenancy Deposit Scheme at the start of your tenancy, or since then?

Please select all that apply

Rows

• The purpose of Tenancy Deposit Schemes
• Which Scheme is protecting my deposit
• How Tenancy Deposit Schemes protect tenants' deposits
• How my deposit will be returned at the end of my tenancy
• What happens if there is a disagreement over
• how much of my deposit should be returned at the end of my tenancy
• How I can make a complaint about how my deposit is handled

Columns

• At the start of your tenancy
• During your tenancy
• No information received

19. How have you received information on the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

Please select all that apply

• From my landlord
• From my letting agent
• Direct from the scheme (via email or letter)
• From the scheme's website
• Other (please write in below)

20. Is there any information that you have not received, but would find useful?

Please select all that apply

• The purpose of Tenancy Deposit Schemes Which Scheme is protecting my deposit
• How Tenancy Deposit Schemes protect tenants' deposits How my deposit will be returned at the end of my tenancy
• What happens if there is a disagreement over how much of my deposit should be returned at the end of my tenancy How I can make a complaint about how my deposit is handled
• I do not need any more information on the Tenancy Deposit Scheme
• Other (please write in below)

21. How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the amount of information you've received from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

• Very satisfied
• Fairly satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Fairly dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

22. Have you made a complaint about the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

• Yes
• No

23. Who did you complain to?

Please select all that apply

• The Scheme protecting my deposit
• Letting agent
• Landlord Council
• Private rented housing panel
• First-tier tribunal
• Voluntary organisation
• Other (please write in below)

24. What was your complaint about? Please write in below

25. Thinking about how the Tenancy Deposit Scheme dealt with your complaint, how satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the following?

Rows

• The handling of my complaint
• The outcome of my complaint

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Fairly satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Fairly dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

26. Have you contacted the Tenancy Deposit Scheme at any point during your current tenancy (other than to make a complaint)?

• Yes
• No, I have wanted to contact the Scheme but was unsure how to
• No, I haven't had any reason to contact the Scheme
• Don't know/Can't remember

27. Why did you contact the Scheme?

Please select all that apply

• To get information on how the Scheme worked To check that my deposit is protected
• To find out how to reclaim my deposit To find out how to log into my account To find out how to dispute the offer
• To find out how to complain about the Scheme
• Other (please write in below)

28. How much do you agree or disagree that it was easy to contact the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

29. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Rows

• I am confident that my tenancy deposit is safe
• I trust the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to deal with my deposit fairly and efficiently

Columns

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

30. Have you had any private tenancies that have ended in the last 3 years?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

You will now be asked a similar set of questions about your previous private tenancy. Please think only about your most recent previous tenancy when answering.

31. Was this a single or joint tenancy?

• Single tenancy
• Joint tenancy
• Did not have a tenancy agreement

32. When did the tenancy start and end?

33. Was the tenancy managed by a letting agent?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

34. Did you pay a deposit at the beginning of this tenancy?

• Yes - directly to the landlord
• Yes - to the letting agent
• Yes - to someone else
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

35. Who paid your deposit?

• I/my household did
• A relative or friend
• My employer
• My educational institute
• Another organisation

36. Was your deposit protected by one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes?

This involves your landlord or letting agent lodging your deposit with one of the three schemes in Scotland (Letting Protection Service Scotland, MyDeposits Scotland, SafeDeposits Scotland). The scheme holds the deposit and deals with returning it when your tenancy ends.

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

37. Did any of the following apply to you or your tenancy?

Please select all that apply

• The tenancy ended after less than 30 days My landlord was a family member
• It was an agricultural or crofting tenancy The property was a holiday home
• The property was supported accommodation
• The property was used by a religious organisation The property was subject to a control order
• The tenancy was a "life rent"
• The property was in transitory ownership (repossession by a mortgage lender, executors dealing with a deceased person's estate, etc)
• None of the above

Unprotected deposits

38. Did you ask for your deposit to be protected?

• Yes - the landlord
• Yes - the letting agent
• Yes - the First Tier Tribunal
• Yes - someone else (please use the box below to tell us who you spoke to) No
• Don't know/Can't remember
• Someone else

39. Why did you not ask for your tenancy deposit to be protected? Please select all that apply

• Did not know that tenancy deposits had to be protected Did not know who to speak to about this
• Worried about how my landlord/letting agent would react to the request Was not concerned about the deposit not being protected
• Other (please write in below)

40. When you asked for your deposit to be protected, what response did you receive?

Please select all that apply

• The landlord said they would protect the deposit, but didn't
• The letting agent said they would protect the deposit, but didn't
• I was told that that they did not need to protect my deposit
• I didn't receive any response
• Other (please write in below)

41. Was your deposit protected within 30 days of your tenancy starting?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

42. Did you have to take any of the following actions to get your deposit protected?

• Ask my landlord
• Ask my letting agent
• Ask someone else
• Open a case with the First Tier Tribunal
• Something else
• I didn't take any action

43. Which Tenancy Deposit Scheme protected the deposit for this tenancy?

• Letting Protection Service Scotland
• MyDeposits Scotland
• SafeDeposits Scotland
• Don't know/Can't remember

44. Did you ever make a complaint about this tenancy?

• Yes
• No

45. Who did you complain to?

Please select all that apply

• The Scheme protecting my deposit
• Letting agent
• Landlord Council
• Private rented housing panel
• First-tier tribunal
• Voluntary organisation
• Other (please write in below)

46. What was your complaint about?

Please write in below

47. Thinking about how the Tenancy Deposit Scheme dealt with your complaint, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the following?

Rows

• The handling of my complaint
• The outcome of my complaint

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Fairly satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Fairly dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

48. Was your deposit returned on time?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

49. Why was your deposit not returned on time?

Please select all that apply

• My landlord caused a delay
• The Tenancy Deposit Scheme caused a delay
• I caused a delay
• We were negotiating any deductions to be made
• Other reason

50. Was your deposit returned in full?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

51. Why was your deposit not returned in full?

Please select all that apply

• Damage to the property
• Rent arrears
• Unpaid bills
• Other (please write in below)

52. Did you use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme's dispute process?

• Yes
• No

53. Why did you not use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme's dispute process?

Please select all that apply

• Did not know there was a dispute process available
• Did not think the dispute process would make any difference
• Did not want to spend the time/effort on a dispute process
• The Scheme explained why the deposit was not returned in full, I didn't feel the need to go through the dispute process
• Other (please write in)

54. What was the result of your dispute?

• They found in my favour
• They found in my landlord's favour
• It was a split decision
• It is still ongoing

55. Thinking about the dispute process, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the following?

Rows

• The handling of the dispute
• The outcome of the dispute

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Fairly satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Fairly dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

56. At the end of the dispute process, did you ask for the decision to be reviewed?

• Yes
• No
• The dispute is still ongoing

57. What was the result of the decision review?

• They found in my favour
• They found in my landlord's favour
• It was a split decision
• It is still ongoing

58. Thinking about the decision review, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the following?

Rows

• The handling of the review
• The outcome of the review

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Fairly satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Fairly dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

59. How much do you agree or disagree that you were treated fairly by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme at the end of your tenancy?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

The next few questions are about any private tenancies you may have had in the last 5 years.

60. Have you had a tenancy in the last 5 years where the deposit was not protected by one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes?

Please include any tenancies that you have already told us about.

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

61. Have you or anyone you know ended a tenancy in the last 5 years without reclaiming the deposit? Please include any tenancies that you have already told us about.

• Yes - I have
• Yes - I know someone who has
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

62. If yes, why was this?

Please write in below

Finally, about you

The last few questions are about you and your household. We only use this information to make sure we have a good mix of survey respondents, and to help us better understand the results. Please remember your survey response is completely confidential, but you can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer.

63. Which of the following describes how you think of yourself?

• Male
• Female
• Other

64. How old are you?

• Under 25
• 25-34
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-64
• 65+

65. Including yourself, how many adults and children are in your household?

Rows

• Adults aged 16-64
• Adults aged 64+
• Children aged under 16 years

Columns

• Please write in

66. Please tell us about the employment status of all adults in the household.

Select one for each

67. Please write in your postcode below. This will be only be used to help us look at how views change across the country

Please leave blank if you would prefer not to say

68. What is your ethnic group?

• White - Scottish
• White - other British
• White - Irish
• White - other
• Mixed or multiple ethnic group
• Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British
• African
• Caribbean or Black
• Other ethnic group

69. Where were you born?

• Scotland
• England
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Republic of Ireland
• Elsewhere in the EU
• Outside the EU

70. Do you have a physical or mental health condition or illness lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

71. Everyone taking part in the survey has a chance to be entered into a prize draw to win one of 5 x£50 prizes.

Please tick below to confirm that you wish to be included in the prize draw.

• Yes, I would like to enter the prize draw

If yes, please provide an email address below (we will only use this to let you know if you have been lucky in the prize draw)

Landlord questionnaire

1. Do you own any residential property in Scotland that you rent out to others?

Please choose all that apply

• Yes
• No

Screen out if 'No'

2. How many properties for residential let do you currently own?

Please choose one answer only

• One
• More than one (please specify)

If own one property

3. How did you acquire the property that you let out?

Please choose one answer only

• Inherited
• Bought
• Received as a gift
• Built it
• Other (please specify)

If own more than one property

4. How did you acquire the first property that you let out?

Please choose one answer only

• Inherited
• Bought
• Received as a gift
• Built it
• Other (please specify)

If own one property

5. Did you acquire the property with the intention of letting it from the start?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

If own more than one property

6. Did you acquire your first rental property with the intention of letting it from the start?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

If own more than one property

7. In what year did you first start letting residential property in Scotland?

Please choose one answer only

• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• Before 2011

If own one property

8. Which best describes the location of your rental property?

Please choose one answer only

• Rural
• Small town
• Urban
• Don't know

If own more than one property

9. Which best describes the location of the majority of your rental properties?

Please choose one answer only

• Rural
• Small town(s)
• Urban
• Don't know

If own one property

10. Do you use a letting agent?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No - but I have in the past
• No - I never have

If own more than one property

11. Do you use a letting agent?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes - for all my rental properties
• Yes - for some of my rental properties
• No - but I have in the past
• No - I never have

12. Which, if any, of the following type(s) of residential letting properties do you own?

Please choose all that apply

• Flat(s) - individual unit(s) in a purpose-built block or converted house
• House - detached/semi detached
• House - terraced
• Bungalow
• House of Multiple Occupation (i.e. HMO)
• Purpose built student accommodation
• Other (please specify)

13. Generally, which types of tenants do you tend to have in any of the property(ies) that you let out?

Please choose all that apply

• Young singles
• Young couples
• Families with children
• Older couples
• Retired
• Students
• Local Housing Allowance (LHA) claimants
• Blue collar/manual workers
• White collar/clerical or professional workers
• Executive/company lets
• Workers from other countries
• Older singles
• Other (please specify)
• Don't know

If been a landlord since 2013 or earlier

14. What was your initial opinion of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme when it was introduced in 2012?

Please choose one answer only

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Other (please specify)
• Don't know

15. What is your general opinion of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme now?

Please choose one answer only

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Other (please specify)
• Don't know

16. How much do you agree or disagree that the current Tenancy Deposit Scheme regulations…

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• …are good for landlords
• …are good for tenants
• …are improving standards in the Scottish private rental sector
• …help reduce the number of unfairly withheld tenancy deposits
• …help ensure that deposits are safeguarded throughout the duration of the tenancy
• …help ensure that deposits are returned quickly and fairly

Columns

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree
• Don't know

17. And how much do you agree or disagree with the following…

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• I know enough about the purpose of Tenancy Deposit Schemes in Scotland
• I know enough about how the Tenancy Deposit Schemes in Scotland work

Columns

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Current tenancies

If one rental property

18. Do you currently have a tenant/tenants in your rental property?

• Yes
• No

If own more than one rental property

19. Do you currently have a tenant/tenants in any of your rental properties?

• No
• Yes - in one property
• Yes - in more than one property (please specify how many properties)

If renting out one property

Text screen

The next few questions are about your current tenancy

If renting out more than one property

Text screen

The next few questions are about your current tenancies.

As you are letting out more than one property, please think about and answer only about one property that is a good example of your rental portfolio

Please think only about a property that you let out in Scotland

If have current tenants

20. Did you take a deposit for this tenancy?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No

If did not take a deposit

21. Why did you not take a deposit for this tenancy?

Please choose all that apply

• The tenant is a family member/friend
• The tenant could not afford it
• I prefer not to take a deposit
• I thought it would be too much hassle to protect it
• Other (please specify)

If renting more than one property and did not take a deposit

22. Have you taken a deposit for other properties that you are letting out?

Please choose all that apply

• Yes - other current rentals
• No - but I have for previous rentals
• No - never have

If a deposit was taken

23. Did you protect this deposit with one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/can't remember

If deposit was not protected/can't remember

24. Did any of the following apply to your tenant or the tenancy?

Please choose all that apply

• The tenancy ended after less than 30 days
• My tenant was a family member
• It was an agricultural or crofting tenancy
• The property was a holiday home
• The property was supported accommodation
• The property was used by a religious organisation
• The property was subject to a control order
• The tenancy was a "life rent"
• The property was in transitory ownership (repossession by a mortgage lender, executors dealing with a deceased person's estate, etc)
• None of the above

If none chose above

25. Why did you not protect your tenants deposit?

• This tenancy was exempt from the rules
• The tenant did not want me to protect the deposit
• I was not aware of the rules around protecting tenancy deposits
• Other (please specify)

If renting more than one property and did not protect the deposit

26. Have you protected the deposit for other properties that you are letting out?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes - other current rentals
• No - but I have for previous rentals
• No - never have

All questions in the rest of this section only asked to those who protected the deposit

27. Did you protect the deposit within 30 working days?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/can't remember

28. At the start of the tenancy, which scheme did you protect this deposit with?

Please choose one answer only

• My deposits Scotland
• Safedeposits Scotland
• Letting Protection Services Scotland
• Don't know/can't remember

29. How did you choose which scheme to use to protect your tenants deposit?

Please choose all that apply

• Letting agent suggestion
• Friend/family member suggestion
• Member organisation suggestion
• I've used them before and was happy with them
• I've used other schemes before and was unhappy with them
• Because of their marketing/promotional material
• Because of their reputation
• Because of where the scheme is based
• Another reason (please specify)

30. Do you intend to change the Tenancy Deposit Scheme you are using in the future?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes - during this tenancy
• Yes - at the end of this tenancy
• No
• I have already changed scheme during this tenancy

If plan to change

31. Which scheme do you plan to switch to?

Please choose one answer only

• SafeDeposits Scotland
• MyDeposits Scotland
• Letting Protection Service Scotland
• Haven't decided yet

If already changed

32. Which scheme have you changed to?

Please choose one answer only

• SafeDeposits Scotland
• Mydeposits Scotland
• Letting Protection Service Scotland
• Don't know/can't remember

If already changed

Text Screen

For the next few questions please think and answer about the first scheme that you used to protect your tenant's deposit

33. How satisfied are you with the scheme so far?

Please choose one answer only

• Very satisfied
• Quite satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Quite dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

If quite or very satisfied with scheme

34. Why have you been satisfied with the scheme so far?

Please choose all that apply

• They respond quickly to queries
• The information provided is clear and helpful
• Protecting my tenants deposit was easy
• They were able to resolve an issue for me
• I haven't experienced any issues with them
• Other (please specify)

If quite or very dissatisfied with scheme

35. Why have you been satisfied with the scheme so far?

Please choose all that apply

• They do not respond quickly enough to queries
• The information provided is unclear and unhelpful
• It was too complicated to protect my tenants deposit
• They were unable to resolve an issue for me
• Other (please specify)

36. Have you made a complaint about the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No

If complained

37. Who did you complain to?

Please choose one answer only

• The scheme
• Letting agent
• Council
• Private rented housing panel
• First-tier tribunal
• Voluntary organisation

If complained

38. What was your complaint about?

Please write in your answer

Open text box

If complained to scheme

39. Thinking about how the Tenancy Deposit Scheme dealt with your complaint, how satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the following?

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• The handling of my complaint
• The outcome of my complaint

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Quite satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Quite dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

40. Have you contacted the Tenancy Deposit Scheme at any point during your current tenancy (other than to make a complaint)?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No, I have wanted to contact the Scheme but was unsure how to
• No, I haven't had any reason to contact the Scheme
• Don't know/Can't remember

If contacted scheme

41. Why did you contact the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

Please choose all that apply

• To get information on how the Scheme worked
• To check that my tenant's deposit is protected
• To find out how to make deductions from the deposit
• To find out how to log into my account
• To find out how to dispute the offer
• To find out how to complain about the Scheme
• Other (please specify)

If contacted scheme

42. How much do you agree or disagree that it was easy to contact the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

Please choose one answer only

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

43. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• I am confident that the deposit is safe
• I trust the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to deal with the deposit fairly and efficiently

Columns

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Previous tenancies

44. Have you let out any residential property where the tenancy has ended in the last 3 years?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Unsure

All questions in the rest of this section only asked to those who had a private tenancy end in last 3 years

Text screen

You will now be asked a similar set of questions about a previous private tenancy. If you have multiple previous tenancies that have ended in the last 3 years, please think only about the most recent one when answering.

45. Did you take a deposit for this tenancy?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No

If did not take a deposit

46. Why did you not take a deposit for this tenancy?

Please choose all that apply

• The tenant is a family member/friend
• The tenant could not afford it
• I prefer not to take a deposit
• I thought it would be too much hassle to protect it
• Other (please specify)

If did not take a deposit

47. Why did you not take a deposit for this tenancy?

Please choose all that apply

• The tenant is a family member/friend
• The tenant could not afford it
• I prefer not to take a deposit
• I thought it would be too much hassle to protect it
• Other (please specify)

If a deposit was taken

48. Did you protect this deposit with one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/can't remember

If deposit was not protected

49. Did any of the following apply to your tenant or the tenancy?

Please choose all that apply

• The tenancy ended after less than 30 days
• My tenant was a family member
• It was an agricultural or crofting tenancy
• The property was a holiday home
• The property was supported accommodation
• The property was used by a religious organisation
• The property was subject to a control order
• The tenancy was a "life rent"
• The property was in transitory ownership (repossession by a mortgage lender, executors dealing with a deceased person's estate, etc)
• None of the above

If none chosen above

50. Why did you not protect your tenants deposit?

• This tenancy was exempt from the rules
• The tenant did not want me to protect the deposit
• I was not aware of the rules around protecting tenancy deposits
• Other (please specify)

All questions in the rest of this section only asked to those who protected the deposit

51. Did you protect the deposit within 30 working days?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/can't remember

52. Which scheme did you protect this deposit with?

Please choose one answer only

• My deposits Scotland
• Safedeposits Scotland
• Letting Protection Services Scotland
• Don't know/can't remember

53. Did you change Tenancy Deposit Scheme during the tenancy?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No

If moved deposit

54. Which scheme did you change to?

Please choose one answer only

• My deposits Scotland
• Safedeposits Scotland
• Letting Protection Services Scotland
• Don't know/can't remember

55. Was the tenants deposit returned on time?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/can't remember

56. Why was the tenants deposit not returned on time?

Please choose all that apply

• The tenant caused a delay
• The Tenancy Deposit Scheme caused a delay
• I caused a delay
• We were negotiating any deductions to be made
• Other reason

57. Was the tenants deposit returned in full?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/can't remember

58. Why was the tenants deposit not returned in full?

Please choose all that apply

• Cleaning
• Damage to the property
• Rent arrears
• Unpaid bills
• Other (please write in below)

59. Did you use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme's dispute process?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Don't know/Can't remember

If dispute process not used

60. Why did you not use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme's dispute process?

Please choose all that apply

• Did not know there was a dispute process available
• Did not think the dispute process would make any difference
• Did not want to spend the time/effort on a dispute process
• The Scheme helped explain and I didn't feel the need to go through the dispute process
• Other (please write in)

If dispute process used

61. What was the result of your dispute?

Please choose one answer only

• They found in my favour
• They found in the tenant's favour
• It was a split decision
• It is still ongoing

If dispute process used

62. Thinking about the dispute process, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the following?

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• The handling of the dispute
• The outcome of the dispute

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Quite satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Quite dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

If dispute process used

63. At the end of the dispute process, did you ask for the decision to be reviewed?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No

If dispute process used

64. What was the result of the review?

Please choose one answer only

• They found in my favour
• They found in the tenant's favour
• It was a split decision
• It is still ongoing

If decision reviewed

65. Thinking about the review process, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the following?

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• The handling of the review
• The outcome of the review

Columns

• Very satisfied
• Quite satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Quite dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

66. How much do you agree or disagree that you were treated fairly by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme at the end of your tenancy?

Please choose one answer only

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

TDS

Monitoring of the schemes over the past 5 years has highlighted the previously unforeseen issue of unclaimed deposits - where a tenant could claim all or some of their deposit money back at the end of the tenancy but does not.

These deposits continue to be protected by the Schemes and the Scottish Government is exploring how best to deal with this issue at the moment.

67. Are you aware of any reasons why a tenant or particular group of tenants might not claim return of deposits?

• Yes (please explain why)
• No

Would you object to unclaimed deposits being reinvested in the private rental sector in Scotland if they remain unclaimed for more than 5 years?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No

If object above

68. Please explain your answer, including any alternative suggestions for what to do with the unclaimed monies

• Open

The next few questions are about the future of the tenancy deposit scheme and changes to the private rental sector in Scotland

69. Is there anything about the tenancy deposit scheme regulations that you would like to change?

• Open text box
• Nothing

70 How much do you know about the following recent and upcoming changes to the private rental sector in Scotland?

Please choose one answer per row

Rows

• New Private Residential Tenancy
• First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber)
• Letting agent registration
• Letting agent code of practice

Columns

• A lot
• A little
• Nothing

The tenancy deposit regulatory framework may need to change to fit with recent private rented sector housing reforms - including the new private residential tenancy, the new letting agent rules and the move to the First-tier Tribunal Housing and Property Chamber.

71. Do you suggest any changes to the regulations in light of new and emerging legislative change?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No (please explain why not)
• Don't know

Future plans

72. And what are your plans for your rental units over the next five years?

Please choose one answer only

• Increase the number of units
• Keep the same number
• Decrease the number of units, but not leave the rental market
• Leave the market altogether
• Don't know

73. How long do you intend to stay as a landlord?

Please choose one answer only

• I intend to leave as soon as possible
• I intend to leave as soon my current tenant/s leave
• I plan to stay as a landlord for the foreseeable future

74. Are you registered as a landlord in Scotland?

Please choose one answer only

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

The last few questions are about you and your household

75. How old are you?

• Under 25
• 24 - 34
• 35 - 44
• 45 - 54
• 55 - 64
• 65+
• Prefer not to say

76. How would you describe your gender?

• Male
• Female
• In another way
• Prefer not to say

77. Do you have a physical or mental health condition or illness lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

78. What is the total yearly income of your household? (Please include rental income as well any other income)

• £0 - £9,999
• £10,000 - £19,999
• £20,000 - £29,999
• £30,000 - £39,999
• £40,000 - £49,999
• £50,000+
• Prefer not to say

79. What is your postcode? This will only be used to help us look at how views change across the country