Help - deposit owed

ajm410 · 3 February 2010 at 5:23PM

Hi,

This is a bit random but I've had a lot of help on here already about getting my deposit back so I thought I 'd ask about this.

My landlady has denied me our deposit now since we moved out of her flat on the 25th november. The last time I heard from her before today was Jan 7th saying that she was in Jamaica where her father was dying.

... After a while I still hadn't heard from her despite numerous attempts so I went round to the old flat and spoke to the new tenants who said they had seen her numerous times so far this year and that she had never mentioned being in Jamaice or her father.

I still tries to get in touch with her but eventually sent her a letter of action, in which, I said that I knew that she wasn't in Jamaica.

She has threatened me with her 'law lord' for 'false accusations, bullying and threats'. I have never used bad language in correspondence and the only thin that I've threatened her with has been to take her to a small claims cout. I'm still certain that she hasn't/ wasn't in Jamiaca when she says that she has been. But obviously this has got me a little worried? Do I have any reason to be???

Thanks

Fire_Fox · 3 February 2010 at 5:30PM

Was your deposit lodged in one of the three schemes? Was this response to your letter written? In which case you know you have the correct address. I do not think it is advisable to visit her property as she can claim anything happened, communicate only in writing by recorded delivery. I'd simply ignore the "law lord for false accusations, bullying and threats" part and continue to deal with this professionally, taking your case to arbitration or the small claims court.

ajm410 · 3 February 2010 at 5:37PM

It was not put in one of the schemes and I have made her aware of this.

Her response was an email but I have sent the letter recorded delivery but was told to wait 5 days until I can check whether she's signed for it.

asharon · 3 February 2010 at 6:04PM

sue her for 2.5 times the deposit

omen666 · 3 February 2010 at 8:15PM

asharon wrote: »

sue her for 2.5 times the deposit

3x:mad:.......................

clutton_2 · 3 February 2010 at 9:13PM

we have no idea how long the tenancy was, when the OP moved in, whether there were any additional agreements signed..... and yet already the "sue-brigade" are out in force again.........

and the ill-informed sue-brigade at that.......

G_M · 3 February 2010 at 10:34PM

clutton wrote: »

we have no idea how long the tenancy was, when the OP moved in, whether there were any additional agreements signed..... and yet already the "sue-brigade" are out in force again.........

and the ill-informed sue-brigade at that.......

So:
When did you move in?
What/how long was the initial tenancy agreement?
What happened if/when the initial agreement ran out?
Was there a new one?

As clutton says, these q.s make a big difference to the legal position.

ajm410 · 4 February 2010 at 1:39PM

Thanks for the help so far.

We moved in on August 25th on a 6 month contract which was ended after 3 months with written permission and we helped find tenant who moved in the day after. I also have written confirmation that we would recieve the full deposit back when she recieved it.

G_M · 4 February 2010 at 1:57PM

We moved in on August 25th on a 6 month contract

OK so she was required by law to lodge the deposit with a recognised scheme within 14 days or she can be ordered by a court to pay you 3 times the deposit.
See here.

I also have written confirmation that we would recieve the full deposit back

Bizzar! What is the point of a deposit if the LL guarantees to return it in full???
So tenant trashes the property (not saying you did), and LL returns deposit in full!!

Help - deposit owed

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