Homelessness warning over deposits

Landlords illegally retaining deposits are pushing some vulnerable families towards homelessness, according to the latest annual report from Threshold.

The housing advice agency said many tenants could face losing their accommodation because their buy-to-let landlord might be in serious arrears.

In 2011 Threshold intervened and offered advice in more than 23,000 cases, but had to deal with 3,259 cases where landlords were holding onto a deposit.