please help - landlord keeping bond

luckycat99

Dear All,

I'm in a panic. I'm moving out of my flat on saturday and paid a bond of £433 at start of tenency. Landlord has just informed me he is keeping approx £350 of bond to cover alleged short fall in gas and elec bills over last two years. I paid him a set amount each month which was supposed to cover these bills. At no point has he asked to increase this - but now he says he's keeping all this money. It seems an awful lot to keep. I live on my own in a one bed flat.

What do I do? I need this money as bond for my next flat - so now I have no bond, and no money to replace it. He has said that he will bring a spreadsheet detailing usage etc and I asked for copies of all bills which he says I can't have, but that he wrote down all the details from energy suppliers for me to see and that I can check these with them direct.

Please help - don't know what to do and I'm very upset by this.

luckycat

garbadine

Can you call the energy suppliers direct to find out what your usage has been? (Not sure if they'll disclose it to you if you're not the bill payer, but it may be worth a go)

Hope you get it sorted without too much more stress.

irnbru_2

luckycat99 wrote:

I paid him a set amount each month which was supposed to cover these bills.

Is your rent all inclusive of utility bills?

BigDunc

How much were you paying a month and how big is the flat? Bills have gone up substantially recently so you are being asked for £17.50 a month extra in effect.

lynzpower

Its important what you are contractually obliged to pay for, before any more advice can be given

Can you let us know how your tenancy agreement reads?

PoorDave

While utility prices have risen, you should still get your landlord to show you exactly how he's worked out how much to keep from you. Otherwise it could be that by rights you owe him £50, but he's tyirng to take more, in the hope you won't contest it.

Also, did you sign a tenancy agreement that states the amount you pay covers everything? If so, he shouldn't be allowed to do this, i don't think. If pricesof utilities go up, it seems to me exactly like the landlords who want to increase their rent when interest rates go up (so the house costs them more per month), only to find that their tenancy agreement (which they've signed) do not allow them to.

MortgageMamma

Citizens advice bureau - as soon as possible

luckycat99

Thanks guys, i've been paying him £17.50 a week to cover gas and elec. Unfortunately i can't find tenency agreement, although I know i do have it somewhere.

I have spoken to Shelter and to a solicitor who say that he's not legally entitled to do this as I have kept up my side of the contract by paying the £17.50 each week. So therefore there are no arrears linked to the tenancy agreement and any shortfall must be paid by him (unless he had taken action sooner to increase this £17.50 - which btw would have been better in my opinion).

So I've been advised to instruct him that I'll be taking him to small claims court if he withholds the bond.

Its all very scary and I'm having my uncle come with me to tell him (for moral support).

Will keep you updated.

luckycat

MortgageMamma

Good luck your landlord sounds like a right vanker.

EagerLearner

Do it - I have an ongoing post on this Property thread regarding a landlady trying to do us out of our deposit - we are now taking her to court. Once you have found out your rights you will feel relieved.

Remember, you have not done anything wrong.

Good luck!

BigDunc

luckycat99 wrote:

i've been paying him £17.50 a week to cover gas and elec.

Did you mean week or month in your last reply? £70 a month for a flat sounds quite a bit.