First of all let us say Happy New Year to all of you who have used SafeDeposits Scotland over the last few months. We're now well and truly into 2013 and we'll soon be starting our training days and drop-in sessions for those who are looking for help and advice. Since the introduction of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011, the law in Scotland has set out what landlords must do with any deposit they take for a tenancy, within certain guidelines.

It is now, under law, the responsibility of a landlord to deposit any tenancy deposit they accept with an approved scheme within 30 days of a tenancy starting. However, there are many rules and regulations surrounding this law so it can be difficult to understand. That's why, here at SafeDeposits Scotland, we aim to offer as much help and advice as possible. During the first three months of 2013 we're hosting a round of drop-in sessions to help landlords and letting agents with any questions on the whole process. You can find the dates for each session here.

If you've not heard of SafeDeposits Scotland or won't have time to visit one of our drop-in days, let us give you some background on what we do. As an independent deposit protection scheme that has been approved by the Scottish government, we ensure that any deposits that landlords receive are protected for the duration of a tenancy and that any disputes at the end of said tenancy are resolved fairly.

We are a not-for-profit deposit protection scheme that complies with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and maintain a neutral stance between landlords, letting agents and tenants. For more information you can visit our information page or come to one of our drop-in sessions where a member of our staff would be more than happy to answer your questions. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.