rental deposit

debsue

A friend of mine rented a property through a lettings agent. The contract has finished and they will not return the deposit even though there is no dispute with the property. The contract says that the deposit is held by the The Deposit Protection scheme but they have no record of it. Where can they go for advice?

Thankyou

clutton_2

they must take the landlord to court in the local small claims court

theartfullodger

debsue wrote: »

Where can they go for advice?

Thankyou

Suggest Shelter for advice.. both website...



http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/deposit_protection_schemes

but, more particularly the **free** helpline..

Ring 0808 800 4444

8am-8pm Monday-Friday
8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday

Calls are free from UK landlines and main
mobile networks (Virgin, Orange, 3, T-mobile, Vodafone and O2).

see
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/how_we_can_help/housing_advice_helpline

- but expect a wait for 'phone to be answered by the excellent, well informed, but overworked charity...


However, if LL won't respond sensibly as clutton says, probably end up in't small claims court..

debsue

Spoke to Shelter, they were great, thanks for the advice:)

jjlandlord

clutton wrote: »

they must take the landlord to court in the local small claims court

Having been rightfully corrected by artful, I concur.

theartfullodger

jj - DPS are saying they have no record of it..

Benji

May I offer this as text of a letter before action:

http://tenancyanswers.ucoz.com/index/my_deposit_isn_t_protected/0-4

G_M

Benji wrote: »

May I offer this as text of a letter before action:

http://tenancyanswers.ucoz.com/index/my_deposit_isn_t_protected/0-4

I would tweak it myself. It's appropriate for an ongoing tenancy where the deposi hasn't been protected, but in this case the OP really just wants the deposit returned.

OP - have you checked with all three deposit schemes?

jamie11

Your ex-landlord is inescapably responsible for the whole of your deposit, so don't waste time looking for it, do the letter before action, then follow it up a week later in the court.