6 Weeks to get deposit back....?

MoneyJess

Hi all

I moved out of my last flat almost 6 weeks ago and have yet to get my deposit back from the landlords. There were a few small issues that were cleared up almost straight away, but the money still hasn't arrived. They say 'oh yes, there's no problem, we just need to get the money to you' and other words to that effect. As I signed the contract three years ago, there was no deposit scheme etc, but are there any rules as to how soon they must repay the money? I have obviously had to shell out for the deposit for the new flat, and am now severely short of money (and severely cross!)

Thanks very much for any advice as to what I can do.....

Wutang_2

go round with a big friend and knock on their door

SquatNow

Are we talking letting agent or private landlord here?

Landlords not paying means an immediate "notice before action" recorded deliver letter followed up with a visit to the moneyclaim website 14 days later.

Letting Agent means going into their office and making a huge fuss until they give you your cash back, probably refusing to leave and certainly telling all potential customers coming in how bad the service is.

MoneyJess

The landlord is represented by an agency, but we deal with the landlord directly. I don't think there's any foul play afoot, but they are just lazy and don't really care about the landlord business - they are the son and two daughters of our previous (great) landlord who moved out of the country, and I don't think thay they anticipated the amount of work that goes into it!

guppy

MoneyJess wrote: »

The landlord is represented by an agency, but we deal with the landlord directly. I don't think there's any foul play afoot, but they are just lazy and don't really care about the landlord business - they are the son and two daughters of our previous (great) landlord who moved out of the country, and I don't think thay they anticipated the amount of work that goes into it!

Give them a call and tell them you'll be round next day to collect it.

Imp

Last time I had problems with an agency not giving me a deposit back in a timely fashion, I sent a letter to each of the individual partners telling them I was taking them to court as individuals, not as a company. I got a sheepish call from a member of staff the following day and the cheque arrived shortly after. Doesn't work if it is a limited liability partnership though.

tbs624

Jess -just write saying something along the lines of:

Dear LL
Tenancy of (full address) from until (dates)
I moved out of this property on (date), having paid all bills up to date and having left the property in the same condition as it was at the start of the tenancy (fair wear & tear excepted)

NB: if this wasn’t the case then confirm whatever arrangement you came to return it to that condition & list out any interim phone conversations etc

As six weeks have now passed, I formally request the return of my £ xxx deposit in full within the next 7 days. I would prefer this matter to be dealt with amicably and I can call round to collect a cheque if that would help.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Then, if you don’t hear within that 7 days, promptly send a 2nd letter, headed as “Letter Before Action”, referring to the first letter, telling them that you give them a further 5 days, after which time you will begin court action to recover your deposit plus interest, plus court costs.

Hand deliver or send RD and keep copies. Good luck.

tgon

I'm having a similar issue where the LA say "...there's no problem, whatever are our accounts people playing at and the cheque's in the post today..." but, yes, still no cheque! Now coming up to 4 weeks after end of AST. I'll use the above format and a following "Letter Before Action", if required. Good advise. ty

To MoneyJess, would be interested to know if you had success this way.

Best

MoneyJess

Finally, after seven and a half weeks, the cheque has arrived! In the end, I didn't have to go down any legal routes; a bit of good old-fashioned phone bashing worked. To show how unprofessional they are, the cheque arrived with a hand-scrawled note on a ripped in half bit of computer paper! Not that I'm complaining....! Thanks for all your advice.

Sazzyukrafc

Hi, I'm having the came problem. It's been two months for us and there were no problems with the state of the house and it has since been rented out again.

We sent a letter today stating what's happened etc...and that we want the deposit within 7 days or we will be going to the small claims court.

Let's see what happens