tenant deposit query

crisp

hi can anyone with expertise answer this?

tenant A owes tenant B 1/4th of a tv licence and leaves without paying. both on seperate ASTs

if tenant B then asks the landlord to withhold the equivalent amount from tenant A's deposit, can the LL do this?

HGLTsuperstar

Absolutely not - nothing to do with the LL. Basically you've been stiched up by your "friend" and you're going to be hardpressed to see your money again.

tbs624

Usually LLs stipulate that payment of the TV license fee is down to the tenants.

You cannot get the LL to deduct this cost from the deposit, if it is a failure of a tenant to meet a personal financial obligation to you.

Tenants should always aim to get all bills sorted out up front to prevent this type of scenario.

You could try writing to the other tenant for your 35 quid, with a veiled threat of pursuing recovery further but the reality is that you will probably need to put it down to experience and be more assertive at your next house share.

Incidentally , you say you had separate contracts: if you had a TV only in any communal area then the one license covers the whole property. However, if you had TVs in your individual rooms then a separate full license fee should have been payable for by each tenant.