Ex-Tenant - Deposit Issues & Abuse

Errors78

Just looking for some guidance. An ex tenant has a grievance regarding their deposit. Deposit was secured in DPS at start of tenancy. Place was left a state, full of furniture, mould, grease, broken worktops etc. Tenant confirmed they did not want the furniture so we removed and disposed of it free of charge. Got quotes for cleaning - used the cheapest. Only charged for items to undertake repairs - work was done ourselves (apart frm teh cleaning which we had professionally done).

The deductions were put in a letter (with copies of receipts) and sent to tenant who sent back a letter confirming they agreed to them, but had lost their DPS ID to get money back. To cut a long story short the tenant eventually sorted out DPS website and agreed to the deposit amount.

Since then we have got more and more abusive texts about how we have taken their money and they will attack our property etc.

I don't understand why if they didn't agree to the amount why did they not dispute it - these schemes are in place to protect the tenant!
We have a young child and the nature of the texts make me slightly concerned for their safety. We have spoken to the police, who has spoken to them but the abusive texts have got worse if anything.

I don't really know what to do now, we have done everything above board- any ideas /help /reassurance would be much appreciated.
Many Thanks

looby75

Errors78 wrote: »

We have spoken to the police, who has spoken to them but the abusive texts have got worse if anything.

I don't really know what to do now, we have done everything above board- any ideas /help /reassurance would be much appreciated.
Many Thanks

you need to go back to the police and get them to take things further.

FWIW people who make threats like this are usually all talk so try not to worry too much.

princeofpounds

Yes go back to the police every single time you get an abusive episode. Depending on the wording of the text there is the possibility of a criminal act here, particularly if there are direct threats. I would press the police for crime number in response.

The Malicious Communications Act 1988 section 1, see Stones 8 - 20830 [and Blackstones 19-41] deals with the sending to another of any article which is indecent or grossly offensive, or which conveys a threat, or which is false, provided there is an intent to cause distress or anxiety to the recipient. The offence covers letters, writing of all descriptions, electronic communications, photographs and other images in a material form, tape recordings, films and video recordings. Poison-pen letters are usually covered.

A person guilty of an offence under section 127 CA 2003 shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine or to both

Mallotum_X

As said above Police for each text they send you, and do not reply to any of the texts.

Yorkie1

If there's a threat to cause damage, then in addition to the offence cited by PoP in #3, you've got the offence of Making threats to cause criminal damage - no need to prove the intention element of the MCA offence.

And the offences of harassment.

Now that they have been warned by the police and continued their conduct, they don't have a leg to stand on.

Retain all the texts and go to the police each time.

Errors78

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the advice. We have a crime reference number and are reporting each new text / message as and when received. Hopefully they'll get fed up and stop soon. It's just not very nice.

Next time I might use a PO Box number rather than my actual address so they don't know where I live.

Thanks.

G_M

Errors78 wrote: »

Next time I might use a PO Box number rather than my actual address so they don't know where I live.

Thanks.

So long as you are aware of the various legal requirements regarding disclosure of landlords address....

eg

Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 (Repairing obligations; LL's address; and much more)

Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (Address for Notices; etc)

Written demands (for rent etc: LL's actual address needed) Beitov Properties Ltd v Martin