Advice about deposit

jammother

We moved out of our former property twenty days ago, although our actual tenancy finished on 09/03/2012. We have been trying to find out the status of our deposit for the last week.

We let our property through an agent who holds our deposit in a scheme. We contacted them and they said they needed to finalise the amount of deductions with the landlord. After four days of phone calls, I was told yesterday that because the property was only let through them and not fully managed, I would need to contact the landlord directly.

I contacted our landlord and he said that he was waiting on some quotes. I've heard nothing since.

I was under the impression (perhaps mistakenly) that a deposit had to be returned within ten days. My problem is now I don't know who to chase: the landlord or the letting agent I signed a contract with and who have my deposit.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

gazfocus

Find out which scheme it's in and from what I remember you can initiate a request for your deposit to be returned.

AllSpent

Unfortunatlely, this is a situation which is very common up and down the country. The fact the deposit is in a scheme is good, as it is protected. I would see what the proposed deductions are for, and whether you agree with them or not.
If you don't hear anything, send written requests to your landlord at the address on the tenancy agreement (whether he/she lives there or not). This leaves a paper trail for your evidence in case you need to open a dispute.
You'll get your deposit, it's just a matter of waiting.

jjlandlord

Your ex-landlord is responsible for the deposit.

If you have the details from the deposit protection scheme used, start a request to have the deposit refunded now.
So far your landlord has not come up with any deduction proposal so request the deposit in full as 'undisputed'.