Served a section 21 and left - now complaints I did not give notice!!

tek-monkey

I'd have assumed the keys go back to the LA, I've always done that. I just assumed thats what happened in all cases, I've never even met most of my LLs.

One LA was being a pain, tried to delay us moving out by refusing to give a reference to a new LA til after my rent date - thereby keeping me an extra month. He then tried to insist I gave him the keys personally on the friday afternoon despite my last day being a Sunday, because he wasn't working on the Sat. His keys got posted through the LAs letterbox on the Sunday night, I didn't feel a need to agree this I just had my bro film it on his phone in case of problems.

I also photograph every place on moving in, while the LA is still there, just so they know I have records. I also get a pic of each room upon leaving too. Dealt with a few too many dodgy gits in my time.

clutton_2

it is ALWAYS in a tenants best interest to be at the final checkout - the advice OP has been given by us landlords on here is to help him for the future -

If a tenant tells the LL in advance of leaving (whether notice is required or not) then a discussion can take place as to what exactly the LL/LA needs the tenant to do in order to leave the property and get their deposit back

its no good not attending and then saying after you have left "i did not know about x - i would have cleaned it had i known and now i am having deductions from my deposit "

leaving a tenancy should not be a "war" as many seem to think, it should be a mutally agreeable discussion as to any damage or unpaid rent in conjuntion with the inventory signed on move-in

ShopNspend

Hi, the day I left I rang the landlord and asked where I should drop the keys and asked then to let me know when the checkout would be carried ot so I could attend. I had cleaned the property- I had moved my possesions out and then blitzed the flat whilst it was empty. They are now trying to charge me to clean curtains (which I took down when I started the tenancy and put up the day I left), replace batteries which were working, and generally cleaning things I had already cleaned.

I have neve previously had any problem recieving my deposits back, this is the first time.

I think I'm am going to have to try and root out all the paperwork-(my stuff is all in storage)- as the agent has not told me where my deposit is protected.

AARRRGGGHHHHH!

At least i am not relying on the money, but it would be nice as in theory it belongs to me!!!

tek-monkey

Why is it LAs always try to charge you for cleaning, despite every house you rent needing to be srubbed before you move in? They never actually hire a cleaner it seems, must be a decent money maker.

clutton_2

""Hi, the day I left I rang the landlord and asked where I should drop the keys and asked then to let me know when the checkout would be carried ot so I could attend."

Check outs normally occur on the last day of the tenancy - once you have surrendered the keys you have also surrendered the tenancy and have no rights to further enter the property

as i said before, h ad you communicated earlier in your final month much of this could have been avoided

as i have said on an earlier thread, as a LL i hate it when tenants take curtains down, put them in a cupboard then re-hang them without ironing them - they always look crumpled when they have been stored incorrectly

tizhimi

I love LL's. You can't do anything right.

If you leave your in trouble, if you stay your in the mire too.

I wouldn't worry about it, it sounds like the LA didn't tell the LL that they had issued you with a S21 and now are bricking it.

As for the curtains, they can swivel on that - if they are clean and not creased they can go spin !!!

franklee

clutton wrote: »

it is ALWAYS in a tenants best interest to be at the final checkout - the advice OP has been given by us landlords on here is to help him for the future -

If a tenant tells the LL in advance of leaving (whether notice is required or not) then a discussion can take place as to what exactly the LL/LA needs the tenant to do in order to leave the property and get their deposit back

its no good not attending and then saying after you have left "i did not know about x - i would have cleaned it had i known and now i am having deductions from my deposit "

leaving a tenancy should not be a "war" as many seem to think, it should be a mutally agreeable discussion as to any damage or unpaid rent in conjuntion with the inventory signed on move-in

If the landlord or agent serves a S21 notice then they should be prepared that the tenant acts on the notice and leaves when the notice asks. Therefore there is nothing to stop the landlord/agent, who may have more experience in these things than many tenants, contacting the tenant to arrange checkout. If they fail to do this then as a tenant I'd do it in the last couple of days and ask to be present at the checkout whilst knowing they can refuse if they wish. I would also be sure to take my own photos.

tizhimi

franklee wrote: »

If the landlord or agent serves a S21 notice then they should be prepared that the tenant acts on the notice and leaves when the notice asks. Therefore there is nothing to stop the landlord/agent, who may have more experience in these things than many tenants, contacting the tenant to arrange checkout. If they fail to do this then as a tenant I'd do it in the last couple of days and ask to be present at the checkout whilst knowing they can refuse if they wish. I would also be sure to take my own photos.

Ding dong, right on the money.

franklee

ShopNspend wrote: »

I think I'm am going to have to try and root out all the paperwork-(my stuff is all in storage)- as the agent has not told me where my deposit is protected.

If you really can't get to the paperwork easily then you could just ring up each of the three schemes to see if your deposit is in there. I'm sure they will look it up for you and let you know.

If the deposit was protected and you can get to the paperwork it's worth looking to check you were given the prescribed information which should be like this:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=23126433#post23126433

clutton_2

franklee says ""then as a tenant I'd do it in the last couple of days and ask to be present at the checkout ""

which is exactly what i have been recommending ........

if OP has walked out without notifying the LL it is hardly surprising that he is now experienceing deposit difficulties, as no check-out inventory was done

It is my view that he only has himself to blame for that - its not rocket science to pick up a phone and ask for a check out a few days before departure .....