Disputing the deposit

m0t

Had the decision back today and TDS ruled in our favour.

The adjudicator noted that the agent/landlord hadn't responded, and the timing of the check out was wrong, the lack of check in counted against them.

The adjudicator said that setting aside all of that even if the claim turned out to be valid the cleaning was minor and didn't justify the cost and they wouldn't have awarded the full amount to the landlord.

Given that the agent/landlord have just wasted everyones time is there anyone we can complain to about it?

Soleil_lune

m0t wrote: »

Had the decision back today and TDS ruled in our favour.

The adjudicator noted that the agent/landlord hadn't responded, and the timing of the check out was wrong, the lack of check in counted against them.

The adjudicator said that setting aside all of that even if the claim turned out to be valid the cleaning was minor and didn't justify the cost and they wouldn't have awarded the full amount to the landlord.

Given that the agent/landlord have just wasted everyones time is there anyone we can complain to about it?

Good news! I am glad you disputed this. I swear most landlords try it on, and try and take a few hundred quid of peoples deposits just for the sake of it, and don't actually EVER spend it on the property. We disputed the landlord trying to take £300 of our deposit, and won. Don't let these robbing conmen get away with it!!!

Not sure there's anything you can do now. Maybe just be glad you got it back and let it go???

m0t

I am just angry that the agent and landlord refused to return the undisputed portion of our deposit until told to by TDS.

That tactic is obviously designed to force people who cant afford to go without such a large amount of money for a few months to just give in. It is disgusting behaviour and someone should be able to fine them for it.

tbs624

m0t wrote: »

Had the decision back today and TDS ruled in our favour.

The adjudicator noted that the agent/landlord hadn't responded, and the timing of the check out was wrong, the lack of check in counted against them.

The adjudicator said that setting aside all of that even if the claim turned out to be valid the cleaning was minor and didn't justify the cost and they wouldn't have awarded the full amount to the landlord.

Given that the agent/landlord have just wasted everyones time is there anyone we can complain to about it?

Glad to read that your dispute was satisfactorily settled in the end.

You could post up an honest review of the LA at https://www.allagents.co.uk and/or you could write to your MP and to the Housing Minister, explaining your experience of the tenancy deposit schemes/adjudication process. The trouble is that most Ts don't bother and so the presumption is made by the "powers that be" that the system works well.

m0t wrote:

I am just angry that the agent and landlord refused to return the undisputed portion of our deposit until told to by TDS.

Check through the various documents available on the TDS website - if you feel that your case was not dealt within the correct timelines then write to the TDS complaints people.

dimbo61

Glad you won and hope you get all your money back ASAP

Zorz_2

tbs624 wrote: »

You could post up an honest review of the LA at www.allagents.co.uk and/or you could write to your MP and to the Housing Minister, explaining your experience of the tenancy deposit schemes/adjudication process. The trouble is that most Ts don't bother and so the presumption is made by the "powers that be" that the system works well.

Check through the various documents available on the TDS website - if you feel that your case was not dealt within the correct timelines then write to the TDS complaints people.

I wonder what kind of recourse you can get if it's the deposit protection scheme that doesn't do it's job properly. As far as I can tell, they run under the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government but there isn't an Ombudsman or other specific avenue for the public to complain.

I have a beef with one of those schemes, as one of their members (a lettings agent) essentially lied to me, caused me financial loss and broke the scheme's own rules. I made a formal complaint to the scheme, properly documented and they just fobbed me off with a pathetic vague excuse. :mad: