Following a year of concerted lobbying and pressure by landlord representative bodies, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has tabled amendments to the Deregulation Bill intended to resolve issues arising from the legal case of 'Superstrike vs Marino Rodrigues'.

The ruling from the case originally caused a great deal of confusion about whether tenancy deposits should be protected on statutory periodic extensions. The NLA and other industry partners moved quickly to provide guidance for landlords at the time and, despite agreement reached last summer (2013) that ministers were committed to legislating to correct the situation brought about by the case, landlords have been nervously waiting since to see what action will be taken.

Much of the progress of the Deregulation Bill through parliament has already taken place and while the amendments will first need to be agreed by both Houses it is unlikely to meet too much resistance.