How Long For Deposit Refund?

micky007

Hi,

How long do landlords have to refund a deposit?

I used to live in Norwich for a couple of months and i gave the landlord a £400 deposit. I moved out the property 2 months ago and gave the land lord my notice of leaving. I have been asking her to refund me my deposit but she seems to keep making an excuse and now no longer replies to my emails. Its been 2 months and she still has £400 of my money, how long do landlords have to refund deposits? Is there anything i can do to get my cash back off her?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

micky007

*bump*

Sorry.

pararct

Did you have an AST?

When did the tenancy start?

What evidence do you have you paid her a deposit?

tbs624

micky007 wrote: »

Hi,

How long do landlords have to refund a deposit?

I used to live in Norwich for a couple of months and i gave the landlord a £400 deposit. I moved out the property 2 months ago and gave the land lord my notice of leaving. I have been asking her to refund me my deposit but she seems to keep making an excuse and now no longer replies to my emails. Its been 2 months and she still has £400 of my money, how long do landlords have to refund deposits? Is there anything i can do to get my cash back off her?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

As you say you lived there "for a couple of months" were you a lodger or a T renting under an AST (assured shorthold tenancy)?

If the latter, and you paid the deposit after april 6 2007 ( or signed up for a further Fixed Term after an original pre Apr 2007 one), then the deposit should have been scheme registered and the scheme's prescribed info given to you. If you were a lodger there was no requirement for the deposit to be registered.

If you were a T then check with each of 3 schemes TDS, DPS , my deposits.(property in Eng or Wales)

If no scheme involved ( or you prefer to use court rather than adjudication) or if you were a Lodger then it's off to court ii no response from your next letter to the LL , which must be headed "Letter Before Action".

In this you state the property address, the dates of the tenancy, that you moved out on x date, leaving the property in the same condition as when let, save for "fair wear and tear" * ( assuming you did) and that if the LL does not return your full deposit within 5 working days (give actual date) then you will proceed straight to court and your claim will include deposit, interest plus court costs.

If the LL wants to make any deductions these have to be notified to you in writing and you can dispute them if you don't think the reasons are valid.

If the deposit should have been registered and wasn't you can claim for an amount equiv to 3x the deposit amount.

Was there a signed inventory and an attended check out?

* google arla, guide to dilapidations and mydeposits, landlord guide to fair wear and tear