Student flat security deposit returned... alot less than expected!

wyro

Hi all,

Moved into student accomodation in my final year of uni last academic year - contract started end of august/start of september 2008.

Finally received my deposit cheque back after 2 months waiting, I paid £175 and have received only £43.42 back!!!

There is a breakdown of the charges, and some of them are fair enough. But the one that's got me mad is £70 for a new mattress for my room....
In no way were we reckless with the property, everything was well looked after and we were very clean! I slept on that mattress pretty much every night whilst living there and i would definately have noticed if there was a problem with it, it was fine!!

So i've sent them an email saying I disagree with the charge of the mattress but Im expecting them to come back with some reasoning behind it to try and shut me up. It's only £70 but thats a lot to me right now!

So what (if anything) can I do if they do refuse the additional £70 I feel that Im owed?


Thanks all.

fiish

I don't think they can just deduct sums from the deposit without your agreement - unless that was part of the accommodation terms.

It does seem slightly unfair that they're charging you to replace the mattress as if it was worn that would be considered fair wear and tear. It might be that they change the mattress for a new one with every batch of students, but that's their perogative and should not cost you.

Would suggest getting some advice from your student union - they are normally familiar with student accommodation issues and would know how to help you. Citizens Advice might also be of assistance.

wyro

fiish wrote: »

It might be that they change the mattress for a new one with every batch of students, but that's their perogative and should not cost you.

Thats what I thought at first but ive spoken to my housemates and they werent charged for mattress's

fiish wrote:

Would suggest getting some advice from your student union - they are normally familiar with student accommodation issues and would know how to help you. Citizens Advice might also be of assistance.

Good idea, thanks

bitsandpieces

Speak to your students union. The deposit should be protected - and you can challenge any deductions that seem unfair. You could also encourage your housemates to do the same.

Is this a £70 mattress they're changing out? To be honest, I wouldn't expect a cheap mattress to last much more than a year or two anyway, and any replacement charges should take into account normal wear and tear etc. (they can't charge you for betterment). If you've just been using it for the typical things (haven't damaged it in any other way) it seems seems like a cheek to charge - mattresses wear out in time, and that's not your problem.

Be interesting to hear their reason.

tbs624

Was your occupation under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy ( if the total rent due on the property was over £25K pa, or the accommodation is operated by, or on behalf of the Uni itself, it won't have been and the tenancy deposit regs wouldn't apply)

If you have no info from your LL on whether your deposit *has* been registered - check with each of the 3 schemes for yourself - google TDS, my deposits and DPS & get written confirmation from them, either way.

Stop dealing with this via email - good old snail mail, sent recorded delivery, copy retained by you.

Did you sign an inventory at the start of the tenancy, and was a formal check out completed at the end of the tenancy?

If you are challenging them make sure you state in writing that you are banking what they have sent but do not accept it as "full and final settlement".

If you are dealing with a Letting Agent (LA) check whether they are signed up to ARLA, NALs etc who have a code of conduct.

If a self-managing LL check whether signed up to Uni code of conduct ( those LLs who get their properties listed via the Uni accomms office usually have to be and the code is likely to have been drawn up jointly by the Uni, the local Council private sector rentals team, and the local LL association).

As well as using the Uni Accomms Officer, try the Council's private sector rentals team for support too.

wyro

tbs624 wrote: »

If you have no info from your LL on whether your deposit *has* been registered - check with each of the 3 schemes for yourself - google TDS, my deposits and DPS & get written confirmation from them, either way.

Yes I have a certificate of tenancy registration, is there anything specific i need to do with this?

tbs624 wrote:

Did you sign an inventory at the start of the tenancy, and was a formal check out completed at the end of the tenancy?

Yes, had to fill one out, they didnt have a problem with anything - mattress was okay though.

tbs624 wrote:

If you are challenging them make sure you state in writing that you are banking what they have sent but do not accept it as "full and final settlement".

Thanks, have just done this

tbs624 wrote:

If you are dealing with a Letting Agent (LA) check whether they are signed up to ARLA, NALs etc who have a code of conduct.

If a self-managing LL check whether signed up to Uni code of conduct ( those LLs who get their properties listed via the Uni accomms office usually have to be and the code is likely to have been drawn up jointly by the Uni, the local Council private sector rentals team, and the local LL association).

As well as using the Uni Accomms Officer, try the Council's private sector rentals team for support too.

Will check into this, thanks


and thanks for everyone's help so far

stationaryace

by student accommodation do you mean you were staying in halls (ie rented out from the university, usually on uni grounds), private halls (ie Unite/LibertyLiving flats not on uni grounds), or private let? it might not make much difference, but from past experience i have found university to act slowly where money is concerned.

we had a new double mattress delivered midway through our tenancy, and as the invoice came with it we saw that our LL had paid the princely sum of £80. seems that you're being excessively charged, as if it is student halls you are staying in they use the cheapest of the cheap (and having been to several student parties, i fully appreciate why!).

wyro

stationaryace wrote: »

by student accommodation do you mean you were staying in halls (ie rented out from the university, usually on uni grounds), private halls (ie Unite/LibertyLiving flats not on uni grounds), or private let? it might not make much difference, but from past experience i have found university to act slowly where money is concerned..

They're private halls, owned by the company West Manor Properties

Blacksheep1979

Ask for copies of receipts for everything - so many landlords charge students for things that they never do cleaning/new furniture etc.

mr_fishbulb

If it was me, I would start spreading rumors about how I wore out a mattress in a year with my sexual prowess.

You can't buy that kind of publicity for £70.

wyro

Hi all, just a little update. Was not having much luck with the person I was emailing ,so emailed the site manager, and within an hour had this reply:

Hi Adam

Please accept my apologies for the mattress charge.

We will be sending you a cheque for £70.

Regards Sheila

Im absolutely chuffed and just shows how they'll try and scam students!!