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Kathiravans7
Posts: 7 Forumite
This issue is related to the tenancy of (text removed by MSE Forum Team) which is owned by Max Estates Limited. I moved into the property on 23 June 2015 and I moved out on 23 December 2015. I signed License to occupy document. The flat is not shared with anyone and it was provided for exclusive usage only. The deposit which I paid was £1089.1 and this amount is not yet returned.
I decided to move out and I gave one month’s notice to Faye Pattenden who is the property administrator in Max Estates Ltd. I received an email from her that I would get my deposit back 14 days after moving out.
The payment was not made to me at the end of 14 days. I kept calling and emailing various members of the Landlord’s staff. I have continued to call and email Max Estates Limited but I have had no reply and I have not been told why my deposit has not been refunded.
In connection to this I contacted Shelter who sent the ‘Letter before claim’ to Max Estates Ltd for which also I never got a response.
Please advise me in recovering my security deposit quickly. I am advised by Shelter that I have to raise small claims in the court but not sure how much time this would really take. There is also court fees which I need to pay. Above all even if I get the court order in my favour, will the Max Estates Ltd pay me.
Is there any other way out ??
I decided to move out and I gave one month’s notice to Faye Pattenden who is the property administrator in Max Estates Ltd. I received an email from her that I would get my deposit back 14 days after moving out.
The payment was not made to me at the end of 14 days. I kept calling and emailing various members of the Landlord’s staff. I have continued to call and email Max Estates Limited but I have had no reply and I have not been told why my deposit has not been refunded.
In connection to this I contacted Shelter who sent the ‘Letter before claim’ to Max Estates Ltd for which also I never got a response.
Please advise me in recovering my security deposit quickly. I am advised by Shelter that I have to raise small claims in the court but not sure how much time this would really take. There is also court fees which I need to pay. Above all even if I get the court order in my favour, will the Max Estates Ltd pay me.
Is there any other way out ??
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Comments
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Court may (and sounds likely) be your only option - was the deposit not protected in a registered scheme? If it is then you can apply to the scheme for arbitration - if not you can seek up to 3x the value of the deposit, although this is a more costly money claim track.0
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Shelter have advised you correctly - I suggest you follow their suggested course of action.0
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As an aside I've just carried out a background check against the company you refer to and it shows it as being a dormant company and has a debt to capital of -110k. It maybe more good money on bad. The company do not appear to have any assets in their latest accounts whilst they may have been the "landlords" on your tenancy agreement, it doesn't appear as they own the property you refer to.0
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Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »Shelter have advised you correctly - I suggest you follow their suggested course of action.
And court action is described here..
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-rights/legal-system/taking-legal-action/small-claims/
However the agency you mention may not be the owners, perhaps just the agent. Check who is named as the landlord, please.
No 163 is owned by someone else (I just checked, for £3, with land registry). It has a mortgage with a Swedish bank and some covenants from Eton college (!) ..0 -
theartfullodger wrote: »It has ... some covenants from Eton college (!) ..0
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Thanks for all your replies. Max Estates Limited is the landlord and the director name is (text removed by MSE Forum Team). Parallel House Serviced Apartments is the name of the apartment.
My worst worry is even if I go to court and get a judgement to pay me back my security deposit, what would be my chances that the landlord would actually make the payment to me. Now I have already lost my deposit, I will need to again pay the court fees.
I am also aware they have done this for many people like me.
I signed License to Occupy document and the property administrator said that they are not legally bound to protect my deposit. Though Shelter while sending the Letter before Action challenged this, there was no response from them on that also.
I am new to UK and doesn't know clearly the laws here. Is it so easy for landlord to cheat the tenants in UK with security deposit?
Is there anything I can do without the painful court action. Could someone advise me please.0 -
Serviced apartments?
Did the landlord enter the property every day and vacuum the floors? Did they clean the bathroom for you every day? Did they make and change the bed for you? I'm just asking as serviced apartments sounds like another word for hotel that you stayed at for a long time.:footie:
Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money.0 -
Kathiravans7 wrote: »Is there anything I can do without the painful court action.0
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Kathiravans - I would suggest doing some research on the company in question and the director you refer to. But simple facts are: - the company you refer to is effectively worthless. The director who's name you mention has 59 open directorships, 63 retired and 20 closed. Many of the active companies have gazette notices as well as recent adverse credit reports - all academic as he will not be personally liable anyway.0
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No, it is named as serviced apartments but the flat provided was for exclusive usage of the tenants.0
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