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Landlord refusing to return bond, advice please

Hi, my daughter is at uni and shares a 4 bed house with 3 other students (one of which is the landlords daughter). A £500 bond was paid.

When my daughter went to view the house last year, the landlord told her not to worry about the fact that it had white carpets in, he acknowledged that they were impractical but said as they were in when he bought the house there was nothing he could do about it.

Anyway, you can imagine what the carpets are like now, make-up, drinks etc. He has refused to give them back their bond and altho all the tenants have offered to chip in and have them professionally cleaned he has refused, saying they are beyond cleaning.

Any advice
«13

Comments

  • lynzpower
    lynzpower Posts: 25,311 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Has he protected their deposit in a relevant tenancy deposit scheme?
    :beer: Well aint funny how its the little things in life that mean the most? Not where you live, the car you drive or the price tag on your clothes.
    Theres no dollar sign on piece of mind
    This Ive come to know...
    So if you agree have a drink with me, raise your glasses for a toast :beer:
  • paul112
    paul112 Posts: 55 Forumite
    Not sure, will find out.

    Why do you need to know this, does it make a difference as to where we stand?
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 36,181 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Absolutely. if he has not, she can sue for the deposit and three times the deposit.

    If he has, she needs to raise the dispute with the scheme concerned
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • RAS wrote: »
    Absolutely. if he has not, she can sue for the deposit and three times the deposit.

    If he has, she needs to raise the dispute with the scheme concerned

    Only if you are in England or Wales, Scotland is a different ball game.

    Is the total deposit £500 or is that what your daughter paid? Is he keeping everyone's or just hers?
  • auroan
    auroan Posts: 241 Forumite
    paul112 wrote: »
    Anyway, you can imagine what the carpets are like now, make-up, drinks etc.

    I'd expect the landlord to keep "some" of the deposit but not all of it. Makeup and drinks stains are not fair wear and tear. Regardless of what colour the carpet is.
  • lynzpower
    lynzpower Posts: 25,311 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    they really should have had the carpets cleaned before they gave the keys back....
    :beer: Well aint funny how its the little things in life that mean the most? Not where you live, the car you drive or the price tag on your clothes.
    Theres no dollar sign on piece of mind
    This Ive come to know...
    So if you agree have a drink with me, raise your glasses for a toast :beer:
  • BitterAndTwisted
    BitterAndTwisted Posts: 22,492 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You don't know whether something is beyond cleaning until you've ruddy-well cleaned it! It sounds like this a-hole would like a nice, two grand bonus to have sensible new carpeting fitted.

    Was there a full inventory done at the start of the tenancy?
  • lynzpower
    lynzpower Posts: 25,311 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Darn right B&T! What sort of person fits a white carpet in a student house anyway, someone who aims to keep the deposit I bet you!
    :beer: Well aint funny how its the little things in life that mean the most? Not where you live, the car you drive or the price tag on your clothes.
    Theres no dollar sign on piece of mind
    This Ive come to know...
    So if you agree have a drink with me, raise your glasses for a toast :beer:
  • Ulfar
    Ulfar Posts: 1,309 Forumite
    Who fits a white carpet in any property, they must be loony.
  • BitterAndTwisted
    BitterAndTwisted Posts: 22,492 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The previous owners obviously didn't anticipate four student sharing the place. Make-up can be removed with baby-wipes and anything else could be shifted with Stardrops. Now they've moved out it's too late for all that.

    I'd fight this one tooth and nail. I don't expect the landlord is charging his daughter her £500
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