SafeDeposits Scotland has launched a CPD-accredited training programme aimed at letting agents and other property professionals operating in Scotland.
The SDS Academy will offer Foundation and Adjudication Workshop courses alongside two on-demand courses developed by TDS partner Inventory Hive.
All four courses have received CPD accreditation. Property professionals who complete the full programme can use the SDS Academy Approved logo on check-in and check-out reports for up to 18 months.
SafeDeposits Scotland, part of the TDS Group, will begin delivering its Foundation and Adjudication courses via Zoom from September 2026.
Each three-hour session will cover deposit protection, compliance and proposed deductions. The courses will also look at ways to reduce disputes and improve operational efficiency within property businesses.
Members of the TDS adjudication team and SafeDeposits Scotland client relations team will deliver the training. Course content will draw on common disputes and issues across the private rented sector.
Inventory Hive will provide two additional on-demand courses covering inventories and property inspections. Inventory trainer Tim Wakelin will deliver the sessions.
The courses will focus on best practice for inventory and inspection reporting throughout a tenancy. They aim to help inventory clerks, letting agents and property managers improve consistency and compliance.
The first module covers pre-tenancy activity and inventory check-in reports. It includes guidance on terminology, best practice and the information agents should include in reports.
A second module focuses on mid-term visits and end-of-tenancy check-outs. It covers legal and regulatory considerations alongside practical guidance on preparing reports.
The training will also examine how adjudicators assess evidence during deposit disputes. This includes key principles such as fair wear and tear and betterment.
SafeDeposits Scotland said the programme aims to help property professionals improve reporting standards and avoid common causes of tenancy deposit disputes.
Richard Abbots, CEO of Inventory Hive, said: “The SafeDeposits Foundation course provides an introduction to tenancy deposit protection, including legislation, scheme rules and best practice across the tenancy lifecycle, while the Adjudication Workshop equips professionals with the skills to resolve deposit issues early and negotiate deduction proposals, providing advanced insight into how cases are assessed, what evidence is required, and how to avoid common causes of dispute.
Sandy Bastin, director of Resolution at TDS, commented: “Education is key to raising standards across the private rented sector and preventing disputes before they arise. Our CPD-accredited training brings together the expertise of our adjudication team into a focused, accessible format, while our work with Inventory Hive ensures that professionals also have access to flexible, practical training that supports better outcomes across every stage of the tenancy.”
