What is the single claim process?

fuddle

Some help regarding the single claim process in getting my rental deposit back would be very much appreciated if possible.

My old landlord and the letting agent has failed to respond to my request for my deposit back. We've been moved out of the property for 2 weeks now and although I understand it has been Christmas the rules state calandar days not working days. Without going into too much detail my LL has called both DH and I requesting £300 in cash for a replacement item. This item's damage was not caused by us but has gradually got worse over our multiple years tenancy. He now wants us to pay for a new item. I have told him to go through the deposit scheme for any monies he feels he deserves but knowing he hasn't asked us to sign an inventory or scheme of condition when moving in or out I suspect he's realised he can't get our deposit money very easily and now playing awkward.

Having read the FAQ's about the single claim process I know we have to pay for a solicitor to witness our form and send it back to the deposit scheme. I also know the LL has 14 days to respond. My queries are:

What happens after the 14 days if the LL doesn't respond? Will I get my deposit back?

If within the 14 days the LL disputes, what happens then? Does he need proof to dispute?

Can he win any of our deposit without the ingoing and out going inventories and schemes of condition?

Thank you in advance

G_M

fuddle wrote: »

What happens after the 14 days if the LL doesn't respond? Will I get my deposit back?
Yes

If within the 14 days the LL disputes, what happens then? It goes through the usual arbitration process Does he need proof to dispute? He will need to justify any deduction to the deposit

Can he win any of our deposit without the ingoing and out going inventories and schemes of condition? Yes if he has other evidence to show you have caused damage and/or left the property in a worse state than when you moved in (less fair wear & tear)

Thank you in advance

Good luck.........

BitterAndTwisted

Your ex-landlord is an @rse if he think he can justify getting you to pay the full price for a replacement item after years of a tenancy. A tenant's deposit money is not a new-for-old insurance scheme!

I've never hard of having to pay a solicitor to witness your form. Are you absolutely certain that you've understood the FAQs?

What the deposit-scheme's arbitrators will be looking for is that you've attempted to negotiate with the landlord and failed to reach a sensible and reasonable compromise.

Without a dual-signed and dated check-in and check-out inventory your ex-landlord is going to have a very hard time indeed trying to persuade the arbitrators that he's not a lying, scumbag shyster.

WRITE to your ex-landlord right away (keeping a copy to show the arbitrators), denying that you've caused any damage to this item, and that you consider whatever damage is evident as fair wear and tear, considering the length of your tenancy.