Please help re flat deposit

EagerLearner

PS: Thanks all for the continuing votes re post of month - I have seen some!

PSS: Mr EL feels 'famous' he says - thanks for welcoming him onto the thread - it was his first time and you were very gentle :rotfl:

clutton_2

WHAT is wrong with mods for not awarding EL post of the month for last month !!!!! Grrrrr !!!!

wordsmith_2

EagerLearner, thanks regarding letters one, two and three. However I am now on my letter four! Strongly worded but fair, which is more than can be said for him, he has accused me of time-wasting and creating diversion by not answering his questions but as I have stated he has said he wants them wording in a certain way?! If you answer no to a question surely no means no! :rolleyes: Not sure if writing in Swahili would have more of an effect!

He hasn't provided any evidence regarding costs of work (basically I believe it was him and his buddy who did the work, he never spent money unless he really had to) but I don't want to ask him for a breakdown of costs as that may seem like I'm erring towards liability? It's a tightrope I know that.

Sorry if this post doesn't make much sense, pretty tired today, partly through thinking about all this nonsense.

EagerLearner

Clutton - I think that this will never be awarded post of the month as it doesn't 'fit' the normal post criteria - maybe it will for June..?

Wordsmith - I guess you had no letting agent?
Have you left the property?
Have you paid your last month's rent?
Ho wmuch was the deposit?
Sorry for all the q's just trying to get a better picture of where you stand. As you say you have also already written 4 letters - seems like he's trying to corner you with the 'certain wording'.

clutton_2

EL - what is the normal criteria for post of the month then ?

harryhound

I have been bothered for several months, that there are very few MSE members who win as individuals.

There is someone called "kipper" who is famous for work on the competitions threads, but she (?) is one of the exceptions that proves the rule.

Perhaps there should also be a "Roll of Honour" for people who post regularly and are really useful members of the MSE community.

For example "espresso" coached me through a simple change that increased my broadband speed to half as much again. That sort of regular helpful person deserves some recognition.

Ah well must go and vote, woops "nominate".

Harry

PS I suggest all the members of Eagerlearner's fan club re-nominate for June. That will make it a year since the nightmare started.

EagerLearner

Hi C - have no idea, but seems like only people who helped with 'obvious' stuff win, seems to only be if it was directly moneysaving, rather than this here thread... which is just a bunch of friendly, helpful, sometimes crazy, patient and highly spirited folk who made us charge forth and have courage to fight the Evil Witch...

EagerLearner

harryhound wrote: »

Perhaps there should also be a "Roll of Honour" for people who post regularly and are really useful members of the MSE community.

For example "espresso" coached me through a simple change that increased my broadband speed to half as much again. That sort of regular helpful person deserves some recognition.

Ah well must go and vote, woops "nominate".

Harry

PS I suggest all the members of Eagerlearner's fan club re-nominate for June. That will make it a year since the nightmare started.

Thanks Harry, I like the idea of a fanclub! Yeah hard to believe it's been a year... :beer:

wordsmith_2

EagerLearner, answers to your q's:

1. Private landlord.
2. I have left the property, some time ago, which is why I contacted him as he didn't contact me, claiming that he lost both tenant file with my details and my number from his mobile (yeah, pretty hard to believe I know).
3. Rent was paid by DD and always paid on time.
4. Deposit was £450, damage he has talked about he has given no amounts for, just said was expensive, given no quotes for work done etc., instead convinced I am responsible for installing a satellite dish which caused damage, have said I can prove it was nothing to do with me but sends a reply saying that I need to word answers in a certain way?!.

Also regarding said damage, I have contacted him in the past regarding both minor problems and major ones, have always allowed access and let workmen have the run of the place when some work has needed to be done as I couldn't afford to take time from work. That speaks for itself.

And you're right, he is trying to corner me with the wording, however doesn't he realise that all these letters will go against him, he is contradicting himself between letters, maybe the fact he thinks he can keep my money has made him blinkered, he can only focus on that and not realising he isn't helping himself.

As said before, any help greatly appreciated.

EagerLearner

This is pretty similar to what was done to us - she verbally told us after we moved out that we 'wouldn't be seeing any of the deposit and may even owe close to £800' and we knew this to be because she wanted to refurb the flat with our money. Calling her resulted in her ignoring calls or once putting phone down on my husband. Basically she did not want to know. Then she presented supposed breakdowns and crappy estimates and comp slips and posted them, as if that were enough - then the very next day letting agent gave her the full deposit back with no further ado, knowing deposit was disputed.
In essence, she had the letting agent to hide behind. Yours does not. This business of needing you to 'reply in a certain way' is rubbish and shows he is trying to sticth you up somehow. If he has no evidence then you have given him sufficient warning with your 4 letters to date.
I would call this legal advice line before proceeding - free advice:
0845 456 6815
They will help you and provide further information.
I would say you are fully within your rights to start a court claim as you have given him every chance. However, you should prob send one final letter saying 'Court Action will proceed if I do not receive my deposit of £xxxx within 7 days' to cover yourself - again ask the legal advice peeps, they were helpful and we managed to get hold of them whereas Citizens advice were always busy.
See the arla.co.uk website as well for guidelines on what a landlord may reasonably deduct etc.