Smarter Deposit Release: Where We Are and Where We're Heading

Version: 0.1.358

What the Platform Does Today

When a landlord and tenant exchange deposit return proposals through the negotiation inbox, the platform continuously tracks the gap between the two figures. The moment that gap reaches £0 — meaning both parties are proposing the same return amount — the following happens automatically:

• The negotiation inbox displays an AgreementReachedBanner confirming that both parties have converged.
• A 'Start deposit release' link is shown to the agent.
• The background Inngest function negotiation-agreement-auto-release fires to signal that agreement has been reached.

This means the system already knows:

• Which tenancy is involved.
• The exact agreed return amount.
• That both parties have confirmed the figure.

The Current Gap

Despite having all of this information, the deposit release record is not yet created automatically. Clicking 'Start deposit release' opens a modal that asks the agent to:

1. Search for and select the tenancy (already known).
2. Confirm the return amount (already agreed).

These two steps are redundant once agreement has been reached — the system holds everything it needs.

What's Coming

The next iteration of negotiation-agreement-auto-release will close this gap entirely:

Step	Current behaviour	Target behaviour
Agreement detected	Banner shown, agent clicks link	Banner shown (no click needed)
Tenancy selection	Agent selects manually in modal	Auto-resolved from negotiation context
Amount confirmation	Agent confirms pre-filled amount	Pre-filled and saved automatically
Deposit release record	Not created	Created in draft state automatically
Agent notification	None	"Agreement reached — deposit release draft created for [address]. Review and submit."
Agent actions required	Navigate → Select → Confirm	Review → Submit

The New Flow in Detail

1. Both parties submit matching proposals (gap = £0).
2. negotiation-agreement-auto-release fires.
3. A draft deposit release record is created with tenantReturnAmount set to the agreed figure.
4. The agent receives a single in-app notification linking directly to the draft.
5. The agent reviews the draft and submits — one action, no searching.

Why This Matters

Deposit disputes are stressful for everyone involved. Once both parties have agreed on a figure, every additional manual step is friction that delays resolution and increases the risk of misunderstanding. By automating the draft creation, the platform ensures that agreement translates immediately into action — keeping the process moving without requiring agent intervention for information the system already holds.

Current Status

The detection logic and banner are live as of v0.1.358. Full automation of draft record creation and agent notification is tracked for an upcoming release. Agents should continue to use the 'Start deposit release' link in the AgreementReachedBanner in the meantime.