Landlord's address not on Land Registry - what can I do?

danhenshy23

Hello,

I am currently in the process of writing a Letter Before Action to my previous landlord and letting agency for the non-return of my deposit.

I am very keen to be able to contact the landlord directly, and not just write to him via the letting agency, to ensure that he receives the letter.

I have never spoken to or had any direct dealings with the landlord and his name does not appear on the tenancy Agreement .
I have paid £4 for the Land Registry details of the address, but his details are not there either.

I have contacted the Letting Agency today, but as the tenancy agreement finished in September, they are refusing to provide me with the Landlord's name and address.

Is there anything else I can do to get this information?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Thrugelmir

Who did you pay the deposit too?

danhenshy23

To the letting Agency.

F_T_Buyer

was it in the deposit protection scheme? Or did you take out the tenancy before that came in?

Thrugelmir

Then I would go into the agency again. Request the information. If they fail to so advise them that you will file a County Court Claim for the deposit against them. The County Court Offices are very helpful and will assist you in completing the documentation.

danhenshy23

My tenancy agreement claims that the dposit was protected by TDS (https://www.mydeposits.co.uk), however after checking with them there was no deposit registered to that address in either my name or my co-tenants name.

I have included this in my letter and that fact that I can now claim upto 3 times the amount as the agreement started after April 2007.

The issue I have is that I have no contact details for the landlord whatsoever.

Would it be enough for me to send two letters to the letting agency, one of which addressed "FAO landlord [previous address]"?

Thanks

Thrugelmir

danhenshy23 wrote: »

The issue I have is that I have no contact details for the landlord whatsoever.

Hence why you should file a claim against the Letting Agency. As they are agents acting for the Landlord.

*miaomiao*

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Hence why you should file a claim against the Letting Agency. As they are agents acting for the Landlord.

File the claim against the Landlord, not the agency because they are not legally responsible, the LL is. A claim against the LA is not likely to succeed. Furthermore, if the LA have been negligent it would be the LL would claim against the LA, but that is not your problem.

As you only have the address for the agency send it with 2 copies. One for the LL and one for the LA.

N79

Lets back up a minute. You say you don't have your LL's name. In which case, who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the LL? Is it the agent - in which case the agent is the LL - or is it someone else, in which case they are the LL and you can contact them at the agency's address.

danhenshy23

The Landlord's part of the agreement is signed by an Administrator for the Letting Agency. The section for the Landord's signature reads, "SIGNED by the LANDLORD (or the Landlord's Agent)"

However I know there is a Landlord that own's that property, and when I have been trying to chase this up with the Letting Agency they have always said how they have been requesting the deposit from the landlord (although that is the extent of the help they have offered).

G_M

I have paid £4 for the Land Registry details of the address, but his details are not there either.

Do you mean his name is not here? So who is the registered owner? Or do you mean his address?

The agent has a legal liability in terms of protecting/returning your deposit although the LL has primary responsibility. There is, I believe, case law holding agents responsible. SO:

Belt and braces. Sue both, jointly if you can.

If you have no name for the LL, then clearly you cannot name him on the action.
If you have his name, but no address, write to him/sue him c/o the agent.
Seperatly write/sue the agent.

2 letters to each (if necassary that's 4 letters to the agents address, 2 for th agent 2 for he LL).