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Landlord being unreasonable with deposit - dont think its even protected

2

Comments

  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Where you are from is irrelevant. Where was the tenancy?

    If England or Wales, read

    * Deposits: payment, protection and return

    If you were originally a lodger the deposit did not need registering, but when the LL moved out and issued you an AST, then it should have been registered.
  • ForzaFifer
    ForzaFifer Posts: 75 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    Pixie5740 wrote: »
    Was this when your landlord was living with you so he would also have been without electricity?

    He had moved out to by this point, but i was still on my first contract. He refused to return to the flat to top up the electricity, and wanted one of us to pay for it, even though it was included in our rent.


    Why bother with threats? Send a Letter Before Action and if he still doesn't return your deposit take him to Small Claims Court.
    I dont want to threaten him with anything, i want it resolved amicabily, i feel he is being unreasonable, by not passing to me the details of where my deposit is.


    So the deposit relates to when you were a lodger and not a tenant then? Perhaps he never had to protect your deposit. Maybe give Shelter a call to clarify.

    I wonder, with 6 people living there, if this is a HMO that should have a licence?
    I signed an AST contract with him in November, when he was no longer living there, i still never received any information regarding my deposit.

    I dont know about the HMO.
  • ForzaFifer
    ForzaFifer Posts: 75 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    G_M wrote: »
    Where you are from is irrelevant. Where was the tenancy?

    If England or Wales, read


    If you were originally a lodger the deposit did not need registering, but when the LL moved out and issued you an AST, then it should have been registered.
    [/COLOR][/COLOR]

    It is in London.

    Its a weird situation though, as he doesnt own the property, he's actually an agent and rents the property out on the landlords behalf. He calls himself the landlord though.
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Eighth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you don't want to threaten the landlord/agent or whatever he is, why did you say you were going to try the harassment route like the other lodger/tenant?

    It's very simple, the reason he isn't giving you the details of where your deposit is protected is because it hasn't been registered anywhere.

    Send a Letter Before Action and then, if necessary, small claims court. That's all you have to do now rather than trying to get details of deposit protection that he clearly doesn't have or go on about harassment for something that has been and gone.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    Either be the sheep or the butcher.

    Either agree or take him to court ( who's the landlord named on the tenancy?)
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Who owns the property is irrelevant. If your AST is with him, then he's your landlord. If the AST is with someone else, then that is who you pursue your claim against.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • ForzaFifer
    ForzaFifer Posts: 75 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    I contacted all 3 deposit schemes today, none of them have my deposit. He was supposed to send me the details of the scheme today along with details of my dispute. He messaged me to say he has been too busy. I'll now do as Pixie5740 suggested and go down that road.

    One more question: If in my contract it states that the deposit is held with mydeposits and its not, its not even held with any scheme, does this mean he has breached the contract?
    I ask because if i do take him to court to get my money back, can he then still come after me for his initial demand of £464? Or is that then null and void?
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The breach of contract makes really no difference - he has breachd the law. That is how you pursue him.Again, read

    * Deposits: payment, protection and return

    If he believes you have caused £464 in damage, missing inventory items, renat arrears or whatever, then he can claim this. If you disagree, you can dispute his claim. If you cannot agree between you, a judge can decide for you both.

    If you are taking him to court for the non-registration penalty it makes sense for the court to consider this matter too (unless you reach agreement on it).
  • ForzaFifer
    ForzaFifer Posts: 75 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    He returned my deposit in full this morning. He knew he didnt have a leg to stand on. He sent an email full of insults directed at me, and how he was the bigger man for returning my deposit. I wont bother to respond to him.

    Glad its all over.
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Eighth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks for the update. That's great news. :beer:
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