Renting - can a lettings agent keep your bond AND send you a bill too?

leo886

Hi again gents, answers as follows;

There is a check-in inventory that I completed, but it doesn't include photographs. I signed and dated it. But it hasn't been checked or verified by the lettings agent.

There is a check-out inventory that the lettings agent did, with photographs including the carpet damage - the really stupid part is that they noticed the damage back in January during an inspection and said they would have to get it fixed, then didn't bother.

I've had a letter from them this week quoting £650 for carpet repairs and £100 for 'cleaning', which is ridiculous because I cleaned that house for 2 days. However they haven't taken into account the age of the carpet, or specified exactly what needs cleaning. Taking into account the £450 bond that would leave me with a bill of £300.

I know that the carpet is a minimum of 3 years old, although in my letter to the agent I have estimated them to be 5 years old, as this is when the property originally started being let out.

I have written back to them offering them £325 towards the carpet and £50 towards cleaning, as a 'goodwill gesture' to end the matter without court or dispute services (I figured a judge would look favourably on me making an offer to try and avoid court action). That would still give me £75 from my bond, which is better than nothing. However they have yet to accept it.

They have also sent me a receipt for £60 that the landlord has sent them for 'pressure washing the rear yard' - I wasn't quoted for the work or even given the chance to do it myself, or get my own workman, so I've told them I expect it to be dropped from the final bill.

Think that's everything, I'll repost if anything else springs to mind!