Bond Protection Scheme

Sarah2890

I have a £338 bond with my landlord, that I believe is not in a Bond Protection Scheme. My contract began in July 2009 runs out at the end of June this year, when I'm moving to a different house with a different landlord.

However, I have reason to believe he will not be returning the bond, as I am in contact with previous tenants of his who have lost their own bonds to him.

I've read on the DirectGov website that if he has not put my bond into a Protection Scheme, he is required to repay me three times my orignal bond.

I have always paid my own rent on time, and even before it is due and I have receipts to prove this. The house itself is in a good condition, with no damage.

My query is, would it be worth taking my landlord to court after I leave the house if he does not return the bond? Also, roughly, how much would a claim like this cost, and how long would the process take?

Thank you in advance

<sebb>

Claiming for the 3x deposit penalty is not easy and is easily avoided by the LL by protecting your deposit late.

Have you checked with all three schemes who will be able to tell you if your deposit is protected?

If it is, you can raise a dispute if the LL refuses to return your deposit. If not, you can claim your deposit back (but not the 3x penalty) through the small claims court which should be fairly straightforward.

Find out now if your deposit is protected. If it is not, then you can threaten the LL with going to court for the 3x penalty. You dont actually have to go through with it and the threat may well make them protect it.

clutton_2

do have a good read of www.landlordzone.co.uk first - you will learn a lot about the Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Sarah2890

Just an update - this case is still ongoing!

Myself and my housemates proceeded to take our landlord to court. We've had 2 hearings and he has not shown up for either, instead sending his blithering solictior to do his dirty work.

Each time the case has been adjourned and we have been asked to produce more evidence and have now had to write full witness statements to be discussed in our next hearing in May.

I never expected it to be this long-winded but I'm still hopeful that we will get a result eventually.