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Deposit withheld unfairly
Emzarthur
Posts: 2 Newbie
Don't know if anyone knows any more than me on this, but me and my flatmates feel we've been dealt with unfairly and are desperately seeking some advice!!
In August myself and my 2 flat mates moved out of our flat which we let with grant management, due to a change in circumstances and a turbulent two years letting from the company. We were given cleaning guidelines and strictly adhered to these, leaving the flat in a state better than which it was when we first moved in!
We have pictures detailing the condition of the flat when we moved in, and emails which i sent shortly after moving into the flat complaining about the poor state of repair throughout. During our tenancy the flat was carefully looked after despite leaking windows, unsafe extractor fans and curtains missing from windows. The walls and carpet were acknowledged to be in a poor state of repair when we first moved in, and the carpet only sustained expected wear and tear throughout the two years.
Grant Management have deducted a massive £617.26 from our £1064.70 deposit and claimed our flat needed a massive 12 hours of cleaning, which we strongly disbelieve would be possible. They have sent us a video of the flat "pre-clean" in which the walk around the flat stating what they claim needs to be cleaned, but we are confident we left the flat in a good state of repair and are unable to see any explanation as to why they feel such things need to be cleaned. We do however agree that the one thing that did need cleaning, which was evidenced, was the washing machine drawer.
I've got emails of all our correspondence, me complaining lots about poor state of repair, leaking windows, dirty walls etc and also pictures of when we moved in, showing the flat in the same state as when we left it.
Thanks!
Emily
In August myself and my 2 flat mates moved out of our flat which we let with grant management, due to a change in circumstances and a turbulent two years letting from the company. We were given cleaning guidelines and strictly adhered to these, leaving the flat in a state better than which it was when we first moved in!
We have pictures detailing the condition of the flat when we moved in, and emails which i sent shortly after moving into the flat complaining about the poor state of repair throughout. During our tenancy the flat was carefully looked after despite leaking windows, unsafe extractor fans and curtains missing from windows. The walls and carpet were acknowledged to be in a poor state of repair when we first moved in, and the carpet only sustained expected wear and tear throughout the two years.
Grant Management have deducted a massive £617.26 from our £1064.70 deposit and claimed our flat needed a massive 12 hours of cleaning, which we strongly disbelieve would be possible. They have sent us a video of the flat "pre-clean" in which the walk around the flat stating what they claim needs to be cleaned, but we are confident we left the flat in a good state of repair and are unable to see any explanation as to why they feel such things need to be cleaned. We do however agree that the one thing that did need cleaning, which was evidenced, was the washing machine drawer.
I've got emails of all our correspondence, me complaining lots about poor state of repair, leaking windows, dirty walls etc and also pictures of when we moved in, showing the flat in the same state as when we left it.
Thanks!
Emily
0
Comments
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Assuming you are in England, which deposit scheme was your deposit held in?
The scheme should not have released the deposit to the LL without your agreement.
If you dispute the amount being witheld from your deposit, use the scheme's arbitration process!
If you are in Scotland, you'll need to use the Small Claims Court.
Either way it sounds like you have a strong case.0 -
If your deposit is held in one of the deposit-protection schemes you need to get onto the site and contest every single deduction bar the washing-machine drawer. If you have photos of the condition at the start of the tenancy and can prove you left it in the same state then they should not be able to justify any other deductions.
The poor state of repair and your landlord's disinclination to address it are irrelevant0 -
Ask for a VAT receipt for the cleaning. Think I'm in the wrong line of work if you can get £50/hour for cleaning.0
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...or you (or your LL) can choose to pursue the matter via the small claims courtAssuming you are in England, which deposit scheme was your deposit held in?
The scheme should not have released the deposit to the LL without your agreement.
If you dispute the amount being witheld from your deposit, use the scheme's arbitration process!0 -
You may want to google "mydeposits" and "Landlord guide to fair wear and tear", and " ARLA guide to dilapidations" to help you argue your case on FW&T0
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Yes, i do live in Scotland, i stupidly didn't take any pictures of the flat when we moved out though!
The letting agents did take a video of the property after we moved out, and i think the only thing it really proves is that the flat was left clean and tidy! Will have a google of those terms, thanks again. 0
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