DPS / Letting Agent Query

laurajd28

Hi,

I rent out my apartment, and the tenant is moving out on Sunday. I've done viewings recently in order to find a new tenant, and the state of the property is absolutely disgusting. I will be putting forward a claim to retain some of the deposit to put the mess right.

I've contacted the letting agent that I'm with to ask for contact details for the DPS. They said that the will deal with the DPS on my behalf. Should the letting agent provide me with the relevant details if I specify that I wish to pursue the claim myself?

I just find it a bit suspicious that surely it would save them work if I did it myself, but they are reluctant to give me the details.

I'm wondering if the deposit is actually with the DPS, as the tenant wanted to move out just over a month into the tenancy after a relationship breakdown. During discussions with the letting agent about this, one member of staff told me that the deposit hadn't been sent to the DPS yet. When I questioned the Office Manager about it, she told me that it had...

I basically just need to know if I'm allowed to speak to the DPS myself or if the letting agent has to do it. I've not even had a Fully Managed service, literally just tenant-find, referencing and credit checks, so you'd think they'd be reluctant to do anything else for me!

Thanks in advance!
Laura

benjus

Contact the DPS directly and ask them for the details.

Is it supposedly in the custodial or insurance-backed scheme?

laurajd28

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

Will the DPS still speak to me even though I've not got any details?

I'm not sure to be honest, I've emailed the letting agent to find out. Fingers crossed I get a reply in the morning!!

G_M

Can I just ask who the letting agent works for? Who pays them?

Oh! Yes! It's just come to me. They work for you!

So start acting like their boss!

Write to them (yes, a letter) instructing them to inform you

* what date the deposit was received from the tenant
* what date it was registered
* which scheme it was registered with
* what the reference number is
* what date the tenant was sent "The Prescribed Information

However- since you only had a tenant-find contract with the agent, are you sure this included deposit registration? Have you checked your contract with them? Perhaps best to check before writing your letter!

Remember, it is you as landlord who is responsible ultimately for registration, and you who pays the penalty for non-regiatration.

Guest101

Also, dont forget that the tenant can still get the flat tidy and leave it as per the inventory. (you do have a duel signed inventory, right?)

Its not ideal them having the flat in a state, but if its left clean on check-out then nothing to claim for