TDS Charitable Foundation Invites Bids

The foundation offers funding to organisations in England and Wales to advance education on housing rights and obligations in the private rented sector.

The Foundation was established in 2014 by TDS, the UK’s leading tenancy deposit scheme. As the only not-for-profit scheme in its industry, TDS is committed to raising standards in the private rented sector (PRS) in England and Wales.

The Foundation offers funding for projects that further its objects, which are to advance:

Education about housing rights and obligations in general, and in particular about:
- Best practice in the management of private rented housing.
- Legal rights and obligations which are of particular relevance to those who are involved in the provision or management of private rented housing or who hold tenancies within the private rented housing sector.
- Use of alternative dispute resolution processes for the more efficient and effective resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Conflict resolution through promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution processes for the more efficient resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants within the private rented housing sector.

Activities must also meet one or the other of the following 2018 funding themes:

Theme 1 – promoting knowledge of landlord’s obligations when renting homes.
Theme 2 – promoting knowledge of tenants’ rights and responsibilities.

Applications will be considered from organisations that support landlords and tenants to improve standards and educate those involved in the private rented sector.

There are three streams of funding:

A national funding stream for larger projects with national impact (c £50,000 per project).
An innovation fund to enable those riskier projects to be funded (c £25,000 per project).
A community stream for local projects (roughly £10,000 per project).

Applicants must be clear in the application which stream they are applying for.

Chairman of The TDS Charitable Foundation, Prof. Martin Partington CBE QC said:

“The TDS Charitable Foundation goes right to the heart of the private rented market, with grants aimed directly at benefitting tenants and landlords in communities across England and Wales.

“I’d encourage any organisation or charity that educates and informs tenants, landlords or agents within the PRS to apply…

“The PRS is often difficult to navigate but the projects we support will make sure both landlords and tenants across the country know their rights and responsibilities.”

There are normally three bidding rounds in each financial year.

The next deadline for applications is 14 June 2018 (5pm).

Full details…