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Problems with landlord returning deposit
RapunzelsChameleon
Posts: 44 Forumite
I've just moved house. Before I moved, the kitchen at the rented house I was in was in a terrible state - the work tops were all made of wood which were rotted before I moved in but which got even worse while I was there - the units were all made of wood. The wood surfaces had got to the point where no treatment would make it any better and it just got worse and worse.
In the 3 years that I was there, the landlady never did any inspections at all but texted me occasionally to ask how things were and I mentioned about the work tops and the sink and that it was rotted and impossible to clean etc and she said it would be best to replace them when I moved out.
When I gave notice, she came to look at the house and noted that the work tops needed replacing but that she should have done it before I moved in and that it was not my fault. She arranged to have this done and new work tops were put in, again all made of wood.
She is now trying to say that the wooden cutlery draw, which was directly below the sink top, which was rotted right through is mouldy because I put wet cutlery in there when, in fact I was never able to use it at all because it was mouldy and dirty in the beginning. She says I should pay for a new, custom made cutlery draw.
Two weeks before I gave notice, my disabled daughters social worker, who is doing a care assessment for her at the moment looked at the kitchen and said that it was not suitable for us to live in because the kitchen was in disrepair and she wrote this in a report and said that we needed to move out ASAP. She advised us to go on the councils housing list which we did, and we were put on the highest priority band because of the state of the kitchen.
Originally when I was at the point of handing the keys over, she said that the house was fine. Now, she has suddenly decided there are a load of other things wrong, such as a few areas of paint work that need touching up which she is trying to charge me £10 for. Suddenly the drawer is not only mouldy but also 'broken'. She has sent me an email which proposes taking £80 of deductions from my deposit. She also had a go at me about the work tops and said it was my fault they got so bad because I did not 'keep on at her' to change them :huh:
The deposit is in a scheme and I have applied to the scheme to ask that my deposit be refunded. She hasn't done anything yet wrt contacting the scheme. She has just emailed me proposing to make deductions.
I discovered also that she had registered my deposit late into the scheme - she did not do it within the 30 days.
I feel that she is being really unreasonable. What should I do at this point?
In the 3 years that I was there, the landlady never did any inspections at all but texted me occasionally to ask how things were and I mentioned about the work tops and the sink and that it was rotted and impossible to clean etc and she said it would be best to replace them when I moved out.
When I gave notice, she came to look at the house and noted that the work tops needed replacing but that she should have done it before I moved in and that it was not my fault. She arranged to have this done and new work tops were put in, again all made of wood.
She is now trying to say that the wooden cutlery draw, which was directly below the sink top, which was rotted right through is mouldy because I put wet cutlery in there when, in fact I was never able to use it at all because it was mouldy and dirty in the beginning. She says I should pay for a new, custom made cutlery draw.
Two weeks before I gave notice, my disabled daughters social worker, who is doing a care assessment for her at the moment looked at the kitchen and said that it was not suitable for us to live in because the kitchen was in disrepair and she wrote this in a report and said that we needed to move out ASAP. She advised us to go on the councils housing list which we did, and we were put on the highest priority band because of the state of the kitchen.
Originally when I was at the point of handing the keys over, she said that the house was fine. Now, she has suddenly decided there are a load of other things wrong, such as a few areas of paint work that need touching up which she is trying to charge me £10 for. Suddenly the drawer is not only mouldy but also 'broken'. She has sent me an email which proposes taking £80 of deductions from my deposit. She also had a go at me about the work tops and said it was my fault they got so bad because I did not 'keep on at her' to change them :huh:
The deposit is in a scheme and I have applied to the scheme to ask that my deposit be refunded. She hasn't done anything yet wrt contacting the scheme. She has just emailed me proposing to make deductions.
I discovered also that she had registered my deposit late into the scheme - she did not do it within the 30 days.
I feel that she is being really unreasonable. What should I do at this point?
0
Comments
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Was there a dual signed inventory when you moved in that accurately described the condition of the house?If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0
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No, there were photographs of the rooms but the kitchen work surfaces were already quite bad and only got worse through washing up etc. which would amount to wear and tear I would think.0
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RapunzelsChameleon wrote: »I've just moved house. Before I moved, the kitchen at the rented house I was in was in a terrible state - the work tops were all made of wood which were rotted before I moved in but which got even worse while I was there - the units were all made of wood. The wood surfaces had got to the point where no treatment would make it any better and it just got worse and worse.
In the 3 years that I was there, the landlady never did any inspections at all but texted me occasionally to ask how things were and I mentioned about the work tops and the sink and that it was rotted and impossible to clean etc and she said it would be best to replace them when I moved out.
When I gave notice, she came to look at the house and noted that the work tops needed replacing but that she should have done it before I moved in and that it was not my fault. She arranged to have this done and new work tops were put in, again all made of wood.
She is now trying to say that the wooden cutlery draw, which was directly below the sink top, which was rotted right through is mouldy because I put wet cutlery in there when, in fact I was never able to use it at all because it was mouldy and dirty in the beginning. She says I should pay for a new, custom made cutlery draw.
Two weeks before I gave notice, my disabled daughters social worker, who is doing a care assessment for her at the moment looked at the kitchen and said that it was not suitable for us to live in because the kitchen was in disrepair and she wrote this in a report and said that we needed to move out ASAP. She advised us to go on the councils housing list which we did, and we were put on the highest priority band because of the state of the kitchen.
Originally when I was at the point of handing the keys over, she said that the house was fine. Now, she has suddenly decided there are a load of other things wrong, such as a few areas of paint work that need touching up which she is trying to charge me £10 for. Suddenly the drawer is not only mouldy but also 'broken'. She has sent me an email which proposes taking £80 of deductions from my deposit. She also had a go at me about the work tops and said it was my fault they got so bad because I did not 'keep on at her' to change them :huh:
The deposit is in a scheme and I have applied to the scheme to ask that my deposit be refunded. She hasn't done anything yet wrt contacting the scheme. She has just emailed me proposing to make deductions.
I discovered also that she had registered my deposit late into the scheme - she did not do it within the 30 days.
I feel that she is being really unreasonable. What should I do at this point?
Since she registered your deposit late (did she give you the prescribed information?) then you can take her to court for up to 3 times the amount of the deposit.
Put this to her (find her some links) and tell her that unless she returns all your deposit then you will do just that.0 -
Claim all your deposit back and if she wants to claim, then dispute.
You could of course remind her of the penalty for failing to secure the deposit in the timeframe?If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0 -
I already reminded her of the timeframe and she said 'Well what difference does that make?' Perhaps I should do so in writing?0
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RapunzelsChameleon wrote: »I already reminded her of the timeframe and she said 'Well what difference does that make?' Perhaps I should do so in writing?
The difference being whats legally required. Only communicate in writing.0 -
RapunzelsChameleon wrote: »I already reminded her of the timeframe and she said 'Well what difference does that make?' Perhaps I should do so in writing?
It makes the difference between you being able to sue her for up to three times the deposit (on top of the return of the deposit) and you being stuffed.
Write to her and tell her that you expect the whole depsosit returned promptly as the only deterioration was wear and tear.
And get onto the scheme and claim the whole lot back.If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0 -
Yet another incompetent LL.0
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Ok, this is not getting any easier.
I suggested we use the resolution service at the DPS as we could not come to an agreement. Originally she was proposing to deduct £80 from my deposit. She sent me an email saying that if I use the resolution service she will add on more deductions.
She is now trying to claim my entire deposit!
I think she is going to reject to use the resolution service which means, of course that this will have to go to court. How complex a process is this?0 -
By the way, she rejected my claim via the DPS.0
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