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Deposit return, how long can they take?

I rented an apartment from December 1st 2010 to April 31st 2012 (although I moved out on March 31st 2012). The deposit was £650.

May 2: I emailed confirming that the keys have been returned to them and the apartment is now vacant

May 3: Letting agent confirms they have the termination check arranged for May 4th and asks for my forwarding address for the deposit return

May 3: I provide my address

May 9: I ask for an update on how the termination check went

May 9: Letting agent tells me it was a bit dirty and the deposit will be returned to me tomorrow

May 9: Letting agent emails me again to tell me they looked over the photos again and it's dirtier than they thought so they will need to get a professional cleaner

May 9: I email back saying that's fine, get a cleaner and deduct the cost from the deposit

May 15: I email asking for an update on the deposit

May 15: Letting agent confirms the apartment has been cleaned and they just need to check everything

May 23: I email asking for an update

May 23: Letting agent says that the deposit was sent back to me on May 19 and it was £572

May 23: I reply saying thanks

May 30: I email back stating that the cheque still has not arrived

May 30: Letting agent tells me that they will check to see if someone else cashed the cheque and that I should wait a few more days

May 30: I reply with my bank details so that they can send it via bank transfer instead

June 6: Still no payment (cheque or bank transfer) so I reply asking for an update and nothing.

I get the feeling they're delaying. The deposit return isn't a huge issue but I would like to have it back, it's now almost 2 weeks since they last replied to me. Do they have any obligation to return the deposit within a certain time period? It was protected with the DPS.

Comments

  • with DPS it should take 5 working days for bank transfer and 10 working days for a cheque.

    I know this as just today i've been on the DPS website arranging to get my Deposit back.

    Edit- Have you not got the details so you can log in to the DPS website, it will tell you all the information there.

    Also, for DPS to give you the money back you will recieve an email with a 'Re-payment' number in, you have to accept the agreement of how much money you are getting back VIA the DPS website, and then it would take 5/10 days for your money to come to you.

    Did the same for myself ealrier :)
    Save, save, save, save.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You should be dealing with DPS. You should be agreeing to the cleaning deduction via DPS so that DPS know how much to send the LL and how much to send to you.

    It is my guess your deposit is not actually registered with DPS - have you checked? Do you have the relevant DPS reference number/log in details?
  • ostft
    ostft Posts: 13 Forumite
    G_M wrote: »
    You should be dealing with DPS. You should be agreeing to the cleaning deduction via DPS so that DPS know how much to send the LL and how much to send to you.

    It is my guess your deposit is not actually registered with DPS - have you checked? Do you have the relevant DPS reference number/log in details?

    I have a reference number which the DPS website confirms is registered with them, I don't however have any login details. How would I get these?
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    edited 11 June 2012 at 9:08PM
    ostft wrote: »
    I have a reference number which the DPS website confirms is registered with them, I don't however have any login details. How would I get these?
    If your tenancy deposit has been protected with DPS then they should have written to you confirming that your deposit was registered and given you your log in info too.

    Your LL should also have provided you with the scheme's prescribed information.

    Why do Ts not check with the scheme via the website? There are sections for both LLs and Ts plus various documents and guides, and the scheme's Ts and Cs

    Was a jointly signed inventory completed at the start of your tenancy btw?
  • Okydoky25
    Okydoky25 Posts: 1,139 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Call DPS with details you do have, I didn't have login details but thy provided me with them over the phone. I then logged in agreed the amount to be returned then asked the estate gent to do the same altho an email gets to them from DPS anyway. If they don't confirm with I think 10 dys DPS return your money anyway.
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    To all Ts - look out for your own deposit monies - make sure that the deposit scheme has up to date contact information for you as the T. If you share a tenancy and any of the other Ts move out, check who is listed as "Lead Tenant" on the deposit scheme's records and keep them updated.

    Check at the start of the tenancy, let them know if you change your email address or mobile number during the tenancy and check again when you are due to be moving out.

    If you don't receive your log in info within the first 6 weeks of your tenancy chase them up (LLs now have 30 days from receipt of your deposit to organise registration)

    Go on to the deposit website and familiarise yourself with how it operates, in advance of your tenancy end.
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