end of tenancy - landlord unreachable

Toutanc

Hi all,

Our tenancy is ending this Sunday (31/08) This was instructed by the LL and the LA served us notice in time. Now that we are moving home soon, it appears nothing has been arranged for the check-out process! We asked the LA how to proceed, to organize an inventory and how we would give the keys back but they claim that we should arrange everything with the LL...

We have not heard from the LL about any of this and it appears the LA is not interested (the property was managed by the LL directly and I think the LL is ending his contract with them).

Has anyone faced a similar situation? If I can't reach the LL, what do I do?

My plan was the following:

• Try and reach the LL, again, by phone / email to organize things
• Contact the LA again asking them to keep the keys from Monday as my lease says I should give the keys back to the LL or LA
• On Sunday do a checkout inventory myself, going over the report and taking as many photos and videos as possible.
• On Monday, give the keys back to the LA or get them to put in writing that they won't take it (from what they said before, they don't seem to be interested in that)
• ASAP monday or after write to LL and LA, with recorded delivery, about the situation, that we checked out and explain the key situation...

Do you think I'm taking the appropriate steps?

Obviously the bigger issue is how to get a deposit back if the LL is unreachable and / or unwilling to do check-out process? While my deposit is protected under TDS, are they competent if the LL is unreachable?

Another questions is what is the best thing I can do if the LA won't take the keys of the property to protect myself from legal implications?

Thanks! And thanks for the great information in this section
Toutanc

quidsy

Do you not have any contact details of the LL then? No address, email etc. These should have been listed on the agreement.

IF you have an address send a recorded delivery letter to it stating you wish to hand over keys & do check out inventory on the date your contact ends.

Give you numbers, email etc & if no joy then take final readings, go through inventory & take as many pictures as possible of every room, wall floor ceiling, you get my drift, then post the keys through the letter box. As soon as you are out log in to the DPS & claim back full deposit.

G_M

By law you must have been given an address for the landlord "for the serving of notices". It is usually on the tenancy agreement, but may have been provided seperately.

This may be the LL's actual address, or may be c/o the agent, his mum, or his lover. Does not matter.

Thatis where to send your enquiries, and that is where to send the keys (unless advised otherwise).

Send copies (of the enquiries, not the keys!) to the agent and any other address you have.

Toutanc

Thanks, I have all the info on my lease but I had never heard anything in response.

Strangely enough after several days of silence, everyone wakes up! I heard from the LL, who is abroad and he'll get a family member to do the checkout and get the keys. The agent also said they'd do a checkout. That's progress I guess...