As administrative director of a major property lettings company, I am writing to set the record straight regarding the new tenants deposit legislation. Adam Sampson of Shelter states there is no added expense to tenants (Letters, May 9). This is totally incorrect. We are forced to take out deposit insurance on behalf of new tenants at a cost of £30, which we have to pass on to the tenant.

In fact, due to the hugely increased administrative burden, most agents are charging tenants £57.50 for this.

It is a new, and totally unnecessary, cost to tenants, adding to the already high rents and charges.

We have more than 200 new lettings every year, and have never had to go to a small claims court.

All deposits are returned, with any agreed deductions, within seven days of the tenant leaving, and often on the same day if the tenant needs it.

The legislation is totally unnecessary, and penalises 99 per cent of tenants in order to try to regulate the odd rogue landlord, who will not take any notice of it anyway.

It was promoted by Shelter and the Citizens Advice Bureau, as it is in their interests to exaggerate the extent of the problem in order to obtain increased funding and to extend their, admittedly sometimes necessary, empires.

  • Ivor Sorokin, Geneva Investment Group, Rutland Road, Hove