Advice: taking my landlord to small claims court

OldGregg

Hi,

5 months ago i moved out of a rented property, and since then i've been going back and forth with my landlord to try and get my £630 deposit back from him.

Despite asking him countless times for an itemised breakdown of any reductions he is making the best i have is a very simple text mentioning a few things with no cost attached. I also spent most of this 5 months trying to find out the name of the company the deposit was held with, finally i found out its with 'MyDeposits', after calling them i discovered the deposit had been unprotected for the last 4 months of my tenancy and also that he had only protected £430 instead of £630.

I have proof that i paid him £630 in the form of cheques written out to the landlord and bank statements, but he is for some mad reason insisting that i never paid him these amounts and that i instead paid a 3rd party in cash for my rent and deposit.

The man is very shifty and not someone i can resolve this with, so I want to take him to small claims court, firstly to get what deposit money i am due back minus reductions, then secondly to sue him for not correctly protecting the deposit.

I just need advice on what steps i need to take and how to go about doing it...

Thanks

pmlindyloo

Follow the guidance here:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/tenancy_deposits/tenancy_deposit_protection_schemes/deposit_protection_and_tenancy_deposit_schemes

RAS

Hi

Assuming you are in England or Wales, follow the advice above.

It may be a good idea to point out in your letter before action that you have the right to apply for the up to 3 times penalty.

dimbo61

Report him to HMRC and point out that he is a Landlord renting out property X at £xxx amount per month!!!

theartfullodger

HMRC fraud reporting is here....

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/reportingfraud/

Look at the advice & link above, work out what you think you will do then 'phone Shelter and ask their advice on 0808 800 4444.

See also this..
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/law_w/law_legal_system_e/law_taking_legal_action_e/small_claims.htm
& maybe go see local CaB and get their views.

Good luck with your claim, go for it! (I am a landlord..don't like crooks & cheats be they landlord, tenant, agent, MP..)