Deposit money - illegal deductions?

EagerLearner

I know this has been covered recently so I'll be brief as possible.

We paid deposit of £625 2 years ago and did full inventory when we moved in, flat reasonable order no major faults but we noted old carpet, carpet stains etc.

Recently forced out by landlady who wanted to 'go private' with private tenants and earn more money by cutting out the middle man, our renting agent. If we stayed she could not go private as she'd be tied to the agent, so we were forced to find another place.

Since moving out on 4th June it has been 5 weeks and we have had to chase the agent for news of deposit.

Finally today 10th July they say she is 'posting' the signed release form for the deposit (meaning another few days delay in the post) and they added that they can't tell us what 'deductions have been made as landlady hired her own people'.

We were horrified at them raising the term word 'deductions', as we spent hours cleaning the place and even more horrified to hear that the work has alreay been carried out.

1) We left the flat immaculate! Normal wear and tear but that's it.

2) If she were to carry out work, should we not have been told about it first?

3) If the work was going to go ahead isn't she supposed to advise us of 3 quotes etc?

She told us 2 months ago she wanted to put new carpets in but this was just because the old ones were so ancient and had years of wear and tear.

We now hear from tenants below that she has repainted the whole flat and also put new carpets in and are terrified we are paying for these rennovations to her property with our deposit. :mad:

If anyone can help us out here we'd be so grateful, we are desperate to get at least half is that deposit back as by forcing us out she made us use our overdraft to the limit.

Thanks

EagerLearner