Overpayment of rent

chewmylegoff

Query: I have accidently overpaid rent by about £400 in my last rental period (which ends a week tomorrow). Basically I thought I had updated the standing order online but obviously I failed to click on the confirm button or something.

Anyway, I emailed the agent to ask for it back. She has said that she will send it back once they have received the checkout inventory after our check out on the 24th.

The agent does not manage the property.

In my view they are not entitled to retain overpaid rent for any reason (unless i was in arrears which i am not and in any case it wouldn't be an overpayment then).

I am intending to send this in reply:

in my view you are not entitled to retain overpaid rent pending a check-out inventory. If this is your intention then you are treating the overpaid rent as a security deposit and the landlord is therefore obliged to protect it under the deposit scheme.

Any suggestions?

poppysarah

Hows it overpaid? When do you move out?

I'd double check you've killed the standing order too.

G_M

If the agent does not manage the property why are you dealing with the agent??!

Write (not email text or phone) direct to the LL who a) has your money and b) manages the property and c) holds all legal liability.

If by "check out on the 24th" you mean you are vacating on 24th April (8 days away) it's hardly worth the hastle - you'll be gone before it's resolved.

Make sure the deposit is protected, clean to the standard when you moved in (and as described in the inventory/check-in photos; take photos yourself; be present at check out inspection.

chewmylegoff

G_M wrote: »

If the agent does not manage the property why are you dealing with the agent??!

Write (not email text or phone) direct to the LL who a) has your money and b) manages the property and c) holds all legal liability.

If by "check out on the 24th" you mean you are vacating on 24th April (8 days away) it's hardly worth the hastle - you'll be gone before it's resolved.

Make sure the deposit is protected, clean to the standard when you moved in (and as described in the inventory/check-in photos; take photos yourself; be present at check out inspection.

the agent collects the rent and passes it on to the landlord. i presume they are deducting a fee e.g. 5% of rent or something like that for finding us as a tenant.

i just fired off the email to the agent and they have now agreed to return the money. something about a misunderstanding or something.

chewmylegoff

poppysarah wrote: »

Hows it overpaid? When do you move out?

I'd double check you've killed the standing order too.

rental period runs to the 16th. we gave notice on the 15th of the previous month, but asked to stay until the 24th which the landlord agreed to, so we only owed rent for part of the current rental period. i have definitely killed the standing order!