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Obtaining deposit after tenancy- experiences please?

My hubby and I are due to move out of the 1 bedroom house we've been renting ,in a few weeks time.

When we moved in, I completed an inventory of the condition of the house with a girl from the lettings agent. Fine- both parties agreed on the condition of the place before signing anything away.

However we've been told that on 'check out' of the property, all we have to do is hand back the keys to the letting agency office at the close of business, and wait for them to return our depost (letting agents have been holding this)

Is this a standard proceedure?

I'm worried that because there will be no final formal inspection of the property whilst we're present, we're in the hands of the letting agents' own interpretation as to what reasonable wear & tear has occurred in the period we've lived in the property, and worried we won't get our full deposit back.
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Comments

  • Guy_Montag
    Guy_Montag Posts: 2,291 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you mentioned that you are unhappy with this & asked them to do a chack out with the inventory when you are there?
    "Mrs. Pench, you've won the car contest, would you like a triumph spitfire or 3000 in cash?" He smiled.
    Mrs. Pench took the money. "What will you do with it all? Not that it's any of my business," he giggled.
    "I think I'll become an alcoholic," said Betty.
  • Generali
    Generali Posts: 36,411 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    As I understand it, if there's no inventory the LL will find it very difficult to keep your deposit if it comes to a court hearing.
  • MrsNurseyC
    MrsNurseyC Posts: 52 Forumite
    Ooops, hit enter by accident up there!

    Anyway, To continue:
    on the inventory, it states that there is some peeling paint above the tiled area of the bath/shower, though it doesn't accurately state how much... eg: 'area the size of 50p'.

    So after 6 months, how can we prove that we haven't caused significantly more damage than would be expected in the tennancy period? Your opinions please folks?

    We've got a good relationship with our landlord, who only lives a few doors away, so should we invite him round to asses the condition of the place before we leave or something?
    He's very laid back- I think it would be the the letting agents who would do us out of money, if any.

    I'm being over cautious, I know, but I'd rather assume things hunkydory- ignorant when it comes to a spare £500! ;)
  • MrsNurseyC
    MrsNurseyC Posts: 52 Forumite
    Hmmm...I haven't explicitly said that I'm unhappy with their procedure, Guy, but when asking how we get the deposit back, I did think it sounded a little one- sided in their favour.
    Maybe I should mention it to them. Downside is we're moving out mid-week so I'll have to take unpaid time from work to be there for an inspection at a time suits them, when my landlord only lives a couple of doors away.
  • worknplay
    worknplay Posts: 20 Forumite
    i normally cancel my last months payment..by the time any fuss is made its usually time to move.....and i argue that it was my last payment..as it normally equates to the rent.
    no longer spending a pound to save a penny!
  • pickles110564
    pickles110564 Posts: 2,374 Forumite
    worknplay wrote: »
    i normally cancel my last months payment..by the time any fuss is made its usually time to move.....and i argue that it was my last payment..as it normally equates to the rent.

    It's because of people like you that we have now started asking for more than one month's rent to cover the deposit.
    All you do is make it harder for good honest tenant's to raise the extra to obtain somewhere decent to rent.
    Mind it does become quite fun when I track you down and come after you, catching up is great
  • aaroncaz
    aaroncaz Posts: 5,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    It's because of people like you that we have now started asking for more than one month's rent to cover the deposit.
    All you do is make it harder for good honest tenant's to raise the extra to obtain somewhere decent to rent.
    Mind it does become quite fun when I track you down and come after you, catching up is great


    This works both ways, not all landlords are honest, mine had 2 months deposit of me, and has stated he will keep this as rent!! Yes, i know he can't do this, but he probally will, and not a lot i can do, untill he does, take him to court, etc.......................... he's a dodgy landlord, but at the time i was desperate to find somewhere to rent!
  • pickles110564
    pickles110564 Posts: 2,374 Forumite
    aaroncaz wrote: »
    This works both ways, not all landlords are honest, mine had 2 months deposit of me, and has stated he will keep this as rent!! Yes, i know he can't do this, but he probally will, and not a lot i can do, untill he does, take him to court, etc.......................... he's a dodgy landlord, but at the time i was desperate to find somewhere to rent!

    Im sorry you have had a bad expierence but all we ever want is people keeping to their word. If this was the case I would start getting my faith back and believe what they say instead of thinking they are lying.
  • aaroncaz
    aaroncaz Posts: 5,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Im sorry you have had a bad expierence but all we ever want is people keeping to their word. If this was the case I would start getting my faith back and believe what they say instead of thinking they are lying.


    Yes, it's a pity you,re not my landlord!!!:D
  • pickles110564
    pickles110564 Posts: 2,374 Forumite
    aaroncaz wrote: »
    Yes, it's a pity you,re not my landlord!!!:D

    You would not want to move down to sleepy suffolk, mind you in Ipswich we have the greatest football team
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