Deposit from Landlord

alyrian

Hello all,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask about this, if not can a moderator please move it to the relevant section, thank you.

I was living as a lodger for 6 months, renting a room in a house with live-in landlord. I left 3 months ago, never got any of my deposit back.

I have sent emails and text messages about it then 2 recorded delivery letters 3 weeks apart, still nothing.

3 other old lodgers are in the same situation, 1 got 50% back, the other 30%.

What is the best way going forward to get the money back?

Never made any nuisance, room was in perfect condition when I left. Landlord was holding parties most weeks till very late with police called in twice by neighbours...

Hump

see http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/getting_an_unprotected_deposit_back/going_to_court

McKneff

Bit confused really, if youre a lodger you dont normally need to pay a deposit as in what a tennants pay to a landlord and they put it into a deposit scheme, so i dont think the same rules would apply.

Keep everything in writing, recorded delivery, request your deposit back within say 14 days otherwise you will take him to the small claims court, get the others to do the same.

G_M

McKneff wrote: »

Bit confused really, if youre a lodger you dont normally need to pay a deposit as in what a tennants pay to a landlord and they put it into a deposit scheme, so i dont think the same rules would apply.

Keep everything in writing, recorded delivery, request your deposit back within say 14 days otherwise you will take him to the small claims court, get the others to do the same.

Of course lodgers pay deposits! It's just that the landlord does not have to register it in a scheme.

No sane LL would rent out a room without taking a deposit.

OP - you've sent 2 recorded delivery letters? Well done. Now stop messing about and go to the small claims court.

(I assume you have proof of the deposit - ie a receipt? And preferably photos/a witness showing you left the place clean

alyrian

Thanks for the advice.

I do have all the proofs and tried to go the best route while having records (email, text, recorded deliveries) compared to phone calls.

Next step, small claims court

Thank again

DVardysShadow

alyrian wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

I do have all the proofs and tried to go the best route while having records (email, text, recorded deliveries) compared to phone calls.

Next step, small claims court

Thank again

Do you have evidence that the LL received the deposit? This si the essential record you need.

alyrian

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Do you have evidence that the LL received the deposit? This si the essential record you need.

I have a receipt signed by him so it should be alright

Benji

Launch your claim at http://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk as it is considerably cheaper than the paper based version (form N1)
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/ex50_e.pdf