Help, Landlord wants nearly all my deposit

Gordie1975

Hi there, some advice would be great here.
My old landlord has claimed that i left the my last 1 bedroom flat in a unacceptable state, they have charged me for all sorts.
£12 for a lightbuilb, £80 for the report telling me how bad the place was, £120 for removing a bag of shopping i forgot, and the professional cleaning of the whole place, and damage to a wardrobe and mattress, theres loads of other stuff as well, and they are very snooty......Anyway...lol

I have my reference with the deposit protection agency, and i initally logged in and requested my full £400, they responded resubmitting and offer of £70, they then emailed me a report with photos and stuff.

I refused, and re-submitted the £400. they refused again.

I dont know what to do now, as we are just going back and forward.
Im not speaking to them, as they have a real attitude.

I have looked on the DPS website, but i can make heads nor tails of how to go for a "Joint deposit repayment form" (i was living with someone initially but i have the leads tenants details as they gave me them).

the option isnt there when i look at the place where i can see the deposit, and the website is a nightmare to navigate.

Does anyone know how i start a ADR (alternative dispute resolution), where to find the form and who to send it to?

I do accept theres a few minor problems, but i was there for over 3 years, and the place was in nearly the same condition when i started the tenancy.

Anyway, thanks for any help.

BitterAndTwisted

"Nearly in the same condition" is not exactly the same.

What did the dual-signed and dated inventory at the start of your tenancy have to say about the things they propose to charge you for? Apart from the bag of shopping, of course.

Also, it's customary for the landlord to pay for the check-in and the outgoing tenant for the check-out, and that £80 is pretty reasonable compared to what other agents charge.

Gordie1975

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

"Nearly in the same condition" is not exactly the same.

What did the dual-signed and dated inventory at the start of your tenancy have to say about the things they propose to charge you for? Apart from the bag of shopping, of course.

Also, it's customary for the landlord to pay for the check-in and the outgoing tenant for the check-out, and that £80 is pretty reasonable compared to what other agents charge.

Well, when i say "nearly the same condition", what i mean is, i lived there for over 3 years, we wernt allowed to decorate, so the walls were scruffy, they needed a paint, but that wasnt on the costs anyway.

they claimed a chest of drawers were in need of strapping, as they had broken, not when i was there they wernt, there was a floor tile cracked when we moved in, we left the tile there, upon leaving they removed the tile and took photos if under the tile they removed and used it as proof the floor wasnt cleaned properly.

they used the bag of shopping in the cupboard as proof i couldnt possibly have cleaned all the cupboards as how could i have if a bag of shopping was sat on the self, simple answer i i cleaned it and put the bag in there while i mopped the floor and forgot it.

Whe you say tenant pays for "check-out", ther was no mention of any fees like that in the agreement, they have been added in order to generate a report.

they also say if i dont accept is they will be charging me more fees for refusing to accept.

They refused to come check the place with us the day before of the last day we were there, as we wanted it checked with them, to iron out any problems, they refused and told me to take the keys to their office.