Q: how long for refund of rental deposit?

isleofdogs

DRP wrote: »

Does your LL realise that ultimately it is his responsibility to return your deposit (not the agent) so if your deposit isn't registered in any of the protection schemes then he is in big trouble. Have you checked each scheme?

LL phoned agent to ask for the return of our deposit in full. Agent confirmed with other people (calling on our behalf - as agent would not talk to us!) that they have on file clear instruction from LL to return our money in full with no deduction. LL tried to help but powerless because of the obstruction by agent.

I don't know how to check each scheme, but will get on the blower today and see if I get anywhere.

DRP

isleofdogs wrote: »

LL phoned agent to ask for the return of our deposit in full. Agent confirmed with other people (calling on our behalf - as agent would not talk to us!) that they have on file clear instruction from LL to return our money in full with no deduction. LL tried to help but powerless because of the obstruction by agent.

I don't know how to check each scheme, but will get on the blower today and see if I get anywhere.

a good place to start, which has some facts and contact details:
https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/overview


It doesn't really seem to make sense - do we have the whole story here?
Firstly , why won't agent talk to you?

Secondly, is the LL telling you the deposit never went into his account?

When we paid the security deposit to the agent, he said it would go into the landlord's account (agent said this is legitimate). They have never notified us which scheme it has been held in. Now, landlord said we have to take it up with agent.

Nonetheless, if / when you have to threaten someone with court action, it will have to be the LL presumably.

Blackpool_Saver

you should have been provided with a certificate showing where your deposit had been placed, request it then you can log on and view your deposit

isleofdogs

DRP wrote: »

a good place to start, which has some facts and contact details:
https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/overview


It doesn't really seem to make sense - do we have the whole story here?
Firstly , why won't agent talk to you?

Secondly, is the LL telling you the deposit never went into his account?


Nonetheless, if / when you have to threaten someone with court action, it will have to be the LL presumably.

You have the whole true story. Agent has no one whom we can talk to about deposit - every time I phoned they said to email a particular email address call "head office". It is a faceless and voiceless org. They do not even have a street address for the so called head office. They only list 2 branches for letting - and no one there can help regarding the deposit!!!

LL said agent handling the deposit and we have to take the matter up with agent. We got along well with LL - as we paid him rent directly into his account. I will have to tell LL that we will sue him then, if we do not get our deposit back?

Blackpool_Saver

what a strange situation, paying LL directly but agents handling deposit, something doesn't add up here, who did your inspections ?

isleofdogs

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

you should have been provided with a certificate showing where your deposit had been placed, request it then you can log on and view your deposit

Yes, it is 20:20 hindsight that we should have known to ask LL / agent for the certificate of rental deposit when we moved in the property more than 20 months ago. But, we were new to renting in the UK and naïve in trusting agent / LL. Now, we are paying the price for our stupidity - because the UK laws do nothing to protect us.

We are landlords in Australia, and our property managers deal with tenants' deposits as the laws are unambiguous.

We are becoming wiser (albeit late) in dealing with the rental deposit for the current house. We have emailed new agent & landlord already insisting that we must get the relevant docs.

Blackpool_Saver

isleofdogs wrote: »

Yes, it is 20:20 hindsight that we should have known to ask LL / agent for the certificate of rental deposit when we moved in the property more than 20 months ago. But, we were new to renting in the UK and naïve in trusting agent / LL. Now, we are paying the price for our stupidity - because the UK laws do nothing to protect us.

We are landlords in Australia, and our property managers deal with tenants' deposits as the laws are unambiguous.

We are becoming wiser (albeit late) in dealing with the rental deposit for the current house. We have emailed new agent & landlord already insisting that we must get the relevant docs.

hey, I am on your side, trust me, SOME landlords here get away with murder

isleofdogs

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

what a strange situation, paying LL directly but agents handling deposit, something doesn't add up here, who did your inspections ?

We have requested the info from the agent at least 3 times and they do not answer us. What are we supposed to do? We have reported them to the Property Ombudsman. But, very much doubtful if the PO can do anything! Unlike in Australia, one phone call to the ombudsman, the agent would have jumped.

Blackpool_Saver

are you phoning?

isleofdogs

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

hey, I am on your side, trust me, SOME landlords here get away with murder

Yes, I know - forumites are trying to help me. I have told LL yesterday and made it known to him that hubby wanted me to take everyone involved to court - and report them to ombudsman. he kept saying he tried to talk to the agent and we should do nothing until another week after the 21 days have passed.