Landlord taking ages to return deposit

Reue

Hi guys, hopefully someone will know what to do in this situation.

I moved out of my last property on Decemember 17th 2011. A checkout was completed on December 19th 2011 and the landlord said he would post me the results of this checkout detailing what deducations he intented to make.

To this date I still havnt recieved a copy of this report. Now the landlord is saying he wont process the checkout untill I've proved all final bills have been paid. As my gas and elec is done a month in arrears, Ive yet to recieve that bill and even when I do, I wont recieve written confirmation of it being paid untill at least a week after I expect, taking me into Feb!

So even after getting all this together in Feburary I then need to wait untill the results of the checkout appear at which case i can decide if I want to accept or not and it can go to the depost scheme.

Does this all seem fair or is there anything I can do? Thanks.

BitterAndTwisted

Just get onto the deposit scheme's website and claim the whole of your deposit immediately. Did you take meter-readings and give the utility suppliers your new address?

Reue

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Just get onto the deposit scheme's website and claim the whole of your deposit immediately. Did you take meter-readings and give the utility suppliers your new address?

Yup, ive taken the meter readings and given a forwarding address.

pmlindyloo

I believe that LLs have no right to ask you for proof that you have paid your utility bills before they release the deposit. This is a matter between you and the utility companies.

Just as a matter of interest does it say anything about this in your contract?

However, I believe this is becoming more common because in some circumstances LLs are being chased for unpaid bills.

Since you have given the utility companies your forwarding address and taken meter readings then the LL should be releasing your deposit.

As B&T says just get onto the deposit scheme and claim the whole of your deposit.

BitterAndTwisted

Please claim the whole of your deposit back right away. You don't want the landlord to have got on there already and started to claim any deductions.

If the utility bills were in your name there is no danger to the landlord if you haven't paid them and won't be able to make a deduction for your deposit in relation to them. The landlord is not your damned mother!

Under the circs I would WRITE to the landlord and ask for sight of the check-out report and notification of any proposed deductions asap.

Reue

I have called the deposite scheme who say that the landlord has 21 working days to respond.

Also of note; When I first moved in my landlord did not do any form of inventory on the place, does this mean that we are unable to prove the state of the property when we moved in?

nikki1520

No, it means he can't prove that any damage or delapidation is down to you.

BitterAndTwisted

Nice one! The landlord is going to have a very hard time indeed persuading the deposit scheme's arbitrators that you left the property any dirtier than it was at the start or that you caused any damage during your tenancy.

If the landlord/agent proposes any deductions whatsoever from your deposit whatsoever dispute them. Every single penny. With no proof or any other documentary evidence they will get squat.

Annabee

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Nice one! The landlord is going to have a very hard time indeed persuading the deposit scheme's arbitrators that you left the property any dirtier than it was at the start or that you caused any damage during your tenancy.

If the landlord/agent proposes any deductions whatsoever from your deposit whatsoever dispute them. Every single penny. With no proof or any other documentary evidence they will get squat.

But what if the landlord has actually done an inventory (possibly with photos) and just not let the tenant have a copy?

I'm asking because in my new rental (began late November) they said they would be sending an inventory, but this has not been done. So far I have been keeping quiet about this, because I thought, like you say, this is to my advantage. But now I am wondering what to do for the best. Not had a gas safety certificate either.

Sorry to hijack thread!

poppy10_2

Annabee wrote: »

But what if the landlord has actually done an inventory (possibly with photos) and just not let the tenant have a copy?

Without a copy of the inventory signed by the tenant, the landlord could have completely made up the whole thing long after the tenant moved in, it has little no no value as a piece of evidence.

Yorkie1

Annabee wrote: »

But what if the landlord has actually done an inventory (possibly with photos) and just not let the tenant have a copy?

I'm asking because in my new rental (began late November) they said they would be sending an inventory, but this has not been done. So far I have been keeping quiet about this, because I thought, like you say, this is to my advantage. But now I am wondering what to do for the best. Not had a gas safety certificate either.

Sorry to hijack thread!

On the gas certificate point, write to the LL and ask for the T's copy of the current gas safety certificate within say 7-10 days (fix a date).