TDS Evidence: Online Evidence Portal question

Mooneyd

Just an update on this. We lost - badly - to the tune of £2000 in fact.

The TDS decision, and subsequent reasoning for it, is absolutely scandalous. They totally disregarded practically all of our evidence and awarded the LL compensation for everything. Even though the TDS guidelines state that a non-signed check-in/out must be explained (and never was from the LL side) they accepted the documents and rinsed us accordingly. Their 'summary' refutes our claim that we 'didn't receive these documents' (when we didn't make that assertion at all - we said we received the check in but rejected its validity), and to make matters worse, they accepted photographic evidence AFTER we moved out, and was not part of the original check out report. On top of that, we have been charged for missing items as listed in the checkout - another doc we refused to sign, we complained the 'Inventory Expert' never carried out their duties correctly (these items were (and probably still are) in drawers or cupboards..... which the clerk never bothered to check). A complete and utter shambles.

My advice - try to persuade any EA's you are dealing with to register your deposit with a different dispute service.
Be present at the property both for check in and check out reports (even if you are a busy professional and expect people to just do their jobs correctly) and scrutinize every single item/description listed.

Don't fall foul to an unregulated industry run almost entirely by con-artists (Estate Agents, their sub-contractors and Landlords). And I appreciate not everyone in this industry is low life scum, but dont hedge your bets, or hard earned cash on the off-chance you'll get a kindly soul - chances are you wont!!

Cody

Hi Mooneyd;

I am sorry to hear this has happened to you, doesnt sound like a pleasent process.

I have just moved out of a house after 5 years, with deposit protected by TDS, and after reading your post I am concerned. Can I ask how the LL was able to convince the TDS that you owed them money?

In my case, the check out inventory occured 10 days after I moved out, I am yet to see it tbh. I did take a lot of photos myself on leaving, and it was left in a clean, tidy and empty state. I know my LL however and she will I expect do everything she can do, to extract money from me.

I dont wish to dig up your old wounds, I expect you might like to forget about it and move on, but any info will be helpful to me.

thanks

Cody