Where is our deposit?!

rdchick

So, we moved out on 29th March 2010. 7 weeks ago. We have had a letter stating the deductions from our deposit, yet no cheque or any hint of one. Looking through the forums I thought I should check my TDS, we have one and I looked it up online. It says our deposit has been removed from their scheme and to contact our agents. I have constantly been emailing the agents since we moved out and they have been awful, they don't reply or acknowledge anything!

I don't know what to do, we are in financial hardship as it is!!

Any help would be awesome xxx

Fire_Fox

Stop e-mailing the agent, send a recorded delivery letter to your landlord as it is he who is legally obligated to return your deposit.

rdchick

Ok, didn't know whether or not to contact the landlord... Thanks xxx

G_M

How did the deposit get removed? When the LL applies for the deposit you should have been contacted for agreement - Did you not leave a forwarding address?

As FF says, your contract was with the LL, not the agent. Don't phone, text, email. write. Recorded delivery.

moromir

rdchick wrote: »

So, we moved out on 29th March 2010. 7 weeks ago. We have had a letter stating the deductions from our deposit, yet no cheque or any hint of one.

Did you send back a letter confirming you agreed to the deductions? If you didn't then I believe thats probably what they are waiting for, either for you to confirm you accept the deductions or to notify them you intend to dispute.

Which tenancy deposit scheme was the deposit registered with?

rdchick

The dispute service and yeah we sent it back 11 days ago saying we dispute it.. surely the remainder of the deposit should be sent... that's how they put it anyway... xxx

clutton_2

check the other two schemes as TDS dumped a lot of agents who were not members of "Bodies" such as ARLA last year... so your deposit could be with another scheme.... or not... as the case may be

rdchick

how do we know where our deposit is? what happens if it's no longer in a scheme and the landlord has pocketed it?

Argh... this is so confusing, just feel like people are taking advantage of us... they know we were first time renters and pressurized and pushed us into things from the beginning

Wee_Willy_Harris

rdchick wrote: »

how do we know where our deposit is? what happens if it's no longer in a scheme and the landlord has pocketed it?

Argh... this is so confusing, just feel like people are taking advantage of us... they know we were first time renters and pressurized and pushed us into things from the beginning

Follow the deposit. Get back in touch with TDS as you know it was lodged with them. Find out who it has been returned to and the reason for its removal. That may (or may not) clarify matters. Either way, it's a starting point and you will know where the deposit went and why.

rdchick

Ok, I rang TDS they said yep our deposit has been moved and we should have been told by Countrywide that this has happened... as ever we weren't.

So I rang the agents and they said that yes we would be receiving some of our deposit back in 5-10 days... horrah! If we want to dispute the deductions then we would have to do it through mydeposits.co.uk it's £175 for cleaning... when it was cleaner when we left than when we arrived!! Do you think we should try our luck?

Thanks for everyones help xxx

tbs624

Contact mydeposits.co.uk and DPS, the other two schemes and ask for confirmation of whether your deposit is registered with them.

If you don't have the LLs address download the info from the Land Registry for a small fee.

Send copy letters to both LL and LA either agreeing to or disputing the deductions - the balance of your deposit *has* to be returned to you pronto in either case.

See here for guidance on who may be responsible for the deposit's return