Pub company won't give back deposit

waynebouk

Hi guys firstly thankyou for your and advice here we go.

I was offered a pub to manage with a pub holding company for punch and I was asked to put down a deposit of £500. I was to be paid on a commission based role so that I would be taking a % of the takings. Firstly the pub I was offered had health and safety problems so I couldn't move in or open it straight away so he offered me another just to tide me over till my original pub was ready. After going to over to this new pub and talking to the old manager she said the company was a joke and to get out while you still can. So I told them I would cover while they arranged to get somebody else and that it wasn't for me and would like to get out of it. They agreed and when I they got someone I handed all the takings and keys back with the intention that I would receive all my monies owed to me in due course. They keep offering pubs to try and stay with them but I keep saying no that I just want to move on and would like all my money back. I keep ringing and texting them with no luck but in a little twist the contractors rang me up to say they had finished all work on the original pub and would like to hand the keys over to somebody I agreed to take them in the hope it would gain some leverage in speeding up my payment. So I texted and left voicemails saying I have the keys to the pub and to ring when they want them back and that because I was not living there I was not responsible for the security and safety of the place. I have had no response yet and have no idea what to do.

I'm guessing I should speak to a solicitor and maybe the police.
Anyway thanks for and advice you give.

dunstonh

It is not a matter for the police.

What does your contract say about the deposit?

macman

If you agreed a contract and paid a deposit then you are almost certainly bound by it. The other party is entitled to both keep your deposit and pursue you further for breach of contract.
You appear to have simply 'changed your mind', which does not mean that you can terminate the contract without compensating the other party.
As above, nothing to do with the police-it's a civil matter.

Sinhanada

In the first place I would not have taken the keys from the contractor. That in itself I would say implies liability. That said however, what is done is done.

Again it depends on the contract yo have signed - are you able to just vacate?

I would write a letter to them and send this to them via recorded and signed for delivery. In the letter quite clearly state that you have contacted them (And add the days and methods of contact you have used) on numerous occassions that you are removing yourself from this contract.

Also state that you have been given the keys to the premises and that you wish to hand them back. Give them 14 days to make contact with you for the collection.


One thing to bear in mind though, and I would suspect that since you have taken possession of the keys that you will be made liable for any subsequent damage that arises. If possible, take photographs of all the interior and exterior - and if you are able hand deliver the keys back to them as soon as possible