How long does the landlord have to notify you if deductions will be made from deposit

cord123

Hi all!

You may have read some of my posts re my 'lovely' landlord! Anyway, we have now moved and on check-out the lady from the letting agent told me that the 'landlord was on the war path' (because we didnt agree to the rental increase of 15%!!) and that she had been told to go through the house with a 'fine toothed comb'

Because of this, we expect them to try and make some deductions. We still havent heard anything and handed back the keys on 17th May so 10 days ago today...

I have read that they have 10 days to notify you of deductions - is this true and also is this 10 days or 10 Working days?

I have emailed the lettings agent and had no response so what shall i do now?

Many thanks

Zoe

Werdnal

Which scheme was deposit lodged with? Check the details online and see what status is shown on the deposit - you as tenant may have to login and release it to yourself (DPS scheme requirement), so it may be that the LL has done their bit, but awaiting your approval to release it.

Regardless of whether there was a letting agent involved, the LL is ultimately responsible for the deposit and agreeing any release and/or deductions. If the deposit scheme still shows it protected with no change, do you know who LL is? Write to them, a polite letter reminding them that they deposit is due for return - there is no specific timescale but 14 working days is reasonable. And request that they confirm any proposed deductions in writing within the next 7 days.

You can always dispute deductions if you don't agree, as LL has to prove you are responsible, not you prove your innocence, so if the LL is going to be picky just because you wouldn't pay extra rent, they may not have a good case to make deductions anyway.

cord123

Many thanks for the reply.

We dont have any of the landlords details, the letting agents dealt with everything.
The deposit is with the DPS but I dont have an ID number for this - it isnt with any of my paperwork so I cant log in.....

Will they be able to help if I call because the letting agents are just ignoring me

Thanks

Z

benjus

What address was given on the Tenancy Agreement for the serving of notices?

Did you get the prescribed information about the deposit?

Have you tried calling DPS and asking for your deposit ID?

moromir

The time scale for the notification of dilapidations should (ie it is good practice to) be set out in the tenancy agreement or supporting paperwork (ie prescribed information).

However, if there are reasonable grounds for the information not being supplied in that time, this is permittable (i.e. illness, holidays).