deposit from Landlord or letting agent

glendam

I know there are quite a few messages on this but all relating to LL.

My daughter moved into a flat in January 2012 and used a letting agent it all happened very fast and we paid her deposit of £500 to them.
When seen the flat was not to my standard of clean I mentioned this and was told it would be cleaned it wasnt but that seemed to the first of the lies they told. They never passed on any complaints to the LL and the phone number was first the "wrong one" and then never answered. My daughter never met the LL in the 8 months she was there.
She has now moved out the end of August and asked for deposit and as the flat was cleaner when she left than when she moved in (we have pictures of both.) I see no reason for the full deposit back.
After many visits to see them she was sent a text to say the LL has her deposit she asked for her email adress and was given his own ie the person who had text her.
Is this all sounding suspicious or does the LL have the dseposit or should she/we have it returned by letting agent.

Thankyou for any advice
Glenda

Fire_Fox

All the threads are about landlords because the contract is between the tenant and the landlord. Was the damage deposit lodged with one of the three schemes? Check. Your daughter needs the name and address of the landlord, write to the letting agent for this then write to the landlord, a letter before action if the deposit was not lodged. Stop texting and telephoning this is not formal communication.

glendam

The deposit was definately placed in one of the three schemes but not sure which one.
She wrote a letter to them and passed it in with the keys and asked about deposit return and it took them 4 weeks many phonecalls and text and visits to shop for them to say deposit was with LL which is why I thought it odd. I will tell her to write again, she is not good at letters (hence any other way)are there any templates for letting agent and LL.
I only rented once in the early 70's so know nothing about it.
Thankyo for your help.
Glenda

Fire_Fox

She needs to know which scheme, she may be able to use their arbitration. Sorry but formal communication is in writing, it can be just a few lines, perhaps you could check it for her if she is dyslexic or suchlike? Letters can and should have proof of posting/ delivery and they show you mean business, texts are for organising a night out with your mates. IME one formal letter can save numerous phone calls.

glendam

Yes we are both dyslexic but we will keep it simple and to the point.
Thanks
Glenda

Fire_Fox

if we can help let us know, happy to check over whatever your daughter writes. I wouldn't have known you are dyslexic from this thread!