deposit issue

ads2206

Hi, Just after a bit of advice

Six weeks ago my landlord (2 1/2 years) called me to say he was putting the house up for sale. He then sent a man round to clean all the carpets and another guy to power house the house (as he said there was a lot of moss on it) and the driveway/patio. He stated that he wanted to do this work before putting it up for sale.

I then give him 4 weeks notice to move out as I did not want the insecurity of living in a house that was for sale. After contacting him he is refusing to return any of my deposit as he said it was used to pay for the carpet cleaning and the power hosing as well as fixing a gate that had fallen off the hinges. All completed three weeks before I moved out.

My dispute is the fact that he never gave me the option to clean the carpets (which I intended to do) nor did he request for me to powerhouse the driveway or remove the moss that was on the front of the house. If he had asked me to do this I would have gladly powerhoused the area before I left the house.

I have been advised to take him to small claims court but only want to do that if I have a strong case. The rest of the house was left in the condition we got it.

Any help appreciated

nathand_2

Was your deposit registered?

ads2206

they dont register deposits in N.Ireland although it was given via an estate agency when the lease was drawn up

Yorkie1

Was there an inventory at the start of the tenancy?

In any event, as your only obligation is to leave the property in the same condition as when you moved in, in my view his actions are premature and he cannot claim against your deposit for them. If the gate broke through wear and tear then again it's not your fault.

If you haven't yet moved out, make sure the place is scrupulously clean and take photographic evidence including down the toilet and inside the cooker.