Five Years In: Why Letting Agents Shouldn’t Wait to Adopt The Depositary
When Ferndown Estates signed on as The Depositary’s first ever client in 2020, no one could have predicted what lay ahead. Just weeks later, the world changed with COVID-19, and so did the way letting agents managed their tenancies. Five years on, Ferndown’s MD Ian Crampton joined our co-founder Kristjan Byfield for a candid conversation about that journey—and why more letting agents across the UK need to embrace The Depositary now more than ever.
The Nightmare No One Wanted to Deal With
Ian recalls the dread that came with tenancy conclusions before adopting The Depositary: “Every time a tenant gave notice, we all felt that horror. It was seen as the worst part of the job.” From endless chasing to emotionally charged disputes, the end-of-tenancy process drained staff and created friction for landlords and tenants alike.
That pain point was exactly why The Depositary was created—by agents, for agents. As Kristjan shared, the idea was born from honest conversations with his own lettings team about the worst parts of the job. The result? A platform that automates the admin-heavy end-of-tenancy process and transforms it into a transparent, efficient, and professional experience for all parties involved.
Built for the Real World of Lettings
One of the biggest reasons agents like Ian get behind The Depositary is its deep customisability. From editable tenant communications to timeline controls and cleaning checklists, the platform adapts to how each agency works—not the other way around.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all. It’s a toolbox filled with useful, configurable tools,” Ian explained. That flexibility ensures your processes and brand standards remain intact while your workload dramatically lightens.
Integrations That Save Hours
Whether you're using Inventory Hive, TDS, or Reapit, The Depositary integrates seamlessly to eliminate duplication and manual data entry. For example, with Inventory Hive, key data like damages and cleaning issues are pulled directly into a dashboard—saving hours trawling through reports.
And with our upcoming Reapit integration, key documents and data will be imported automatically, including forwarding addresses and bank details, streamlining refunds and post-tenancy tasks like never before.
Real-Time Reporting That Drives Performance
The Depositary doesn’t just automate processes—it gives agents the tools to improve them. With real-time reporting features like time-to-close metrics, agencies can monitor performance and aim for that gold standard: a 10-day deposit return.
One client saw their average refund time drop from 35 days to 14, while also seeing a rise in five-star reviews specifically praising the end-of-tenancy experience. That’s the power of delivering a fast, fair, and professional exit process—and it's what modern tenants (and landlords) increasingly expect.
Creating Long-Term Goodwill
For Ian, the biggest win goes beyond operational efficiency. It’s about brand loyalty: “We’ve had tenants say they remember us because they were treated fairly. That means everything.”
In a market where customer experience shapes reputation and referrals, The Depositary gives agents a competitive edge—not just by getting the job done, but by doing it well.
What’s Coming Next?
As the conversation closed, Kristjan teased the upcoming launch of AI-powered negotiation tools, automated workflows for finance teams, and deeper CRM integrations - all designed to make letting agents’ lives easier while improving service for tenants and landlords.
Ready to Transform Your End-of-Tenancy Process?
If you’re still managing checkouts manually, juggling spreadsheets, or fielding complaints about slow deposit returns, it’s time to rethink your approach. The Depositary isn’t just a proptech platform—it’s a better way to do business.
- Save time
- Reduce disputes
- Improve compliance
- Win back your team's energy
- Delight landlords and tenants
Join the growing number of UK letting agents who’ve seen the difference. Your team (and your Google reviews) will thank you.
Five Years In: Why Letting Agents Shouldn’t Wait to Adopt The Depositary
"We all dreaded tenancy endings—now they’re the smoothest part of our job."
— Ian Crampton, MD, Ferndown Estates
When Ferndown Estates became The Depositary’s very first client in 2020, they took a leap of faith that’s paid off ever since. Five years on, Managing Director Ian Crampton reflects on their journey and shares why he believes The Depositary is a must-have for letting agents and property managers across the UK.
The Pain: End-of-Tenancy Chaos
Ian describes the pre-Depositary days bluntly:
"It was just seen as the worst part of our job. Nobody wanted to deal with it."
Between chasing tenants, managing deductions, endless admin and disputes, it was a stressful and thankless part of the role for his team—and a frequent source of bad reviews from tenants.
The Solution: Built By Agents, For Agents
The Depositary was founded by agents who experienced the same pain. Instead of a generic platform, it’s a flexible, intuitive tool that transforms the end-of-tenancy process into a streamlined, professional, and transparent experience.
Key features include:
Editable email templates & process timelines
Embedded cleaning checklists
Automated deduction apportioning
Guided workflows & tenant communication
Secure refund processing with evidence trails
"It’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s a full toolkit tailored to how we work."
— Ian Crampton
The Integrations: Serious Time-Saving
Inventory Hive: Damage and liability flags pulled straight into your dashboard
TDS: One-click dispute file generation, auto-close of deposit registrations
Reapit (Coming Soon): Fully integrated workflows, auto-import of tenancy docs & forwarding addresses
These integrations don’t just reduce manual admin—they help your team focus on value-added work.
"We’ve saved hours. The integration with Inventory Hive alone is a game changer."
The Data: Performance You Can Prove
Agents using The Depositary typically reduce average deposit return times by 50–70%, helping meet the government’s original 10-day guidance target.
- Faster turnaround
- Fewer disputes
- Clearer audit trails
- Happier landlords and tenants
The Impact: Brand Loyalty & Better Reviews
"Tenants have returned years later to say they remembered how fairly they were treated."
From improved staff morale to stronger landlord relationships and better online reviews, The Depositary helps agencies build a lasting reputation.
What’s Next: AI & Automation
Launching soon:
AI-powered deduction & negotiation tools
Automated payment instructions for finance teams
Forwarding address sync with CRMs like Reapit
Data-driven proposal generation with embedded evidence
"We’re going even further—less admin, faster refunds, and even better tenant engagement."
Ready to Modernise Your End-of-Tenancy Process?
If your team is still managing checkouts manually—or dreading deposit disputes—it’s time to make the switch.
Book a Demo Today
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Let The Depositary do the heavy lifting. Join the hundreds of letting agents transforming tenancy endings from a pain point into a service strength.
