Suspect Landlord isn't using DPS

Eric5765

Hey,

Just moved into a new flat with a private landlord, my girlfriend has been with the same landlord in another house for a year and a half and had no issues with him, seems like an alright guy even if he also seems a bit dodgy sometimes.

I just got my contract in and he calls the deposit a 'bond', and there is no mention of the deposit protection scheme (I also believe tenants are meant to be given a certificate that it has been put into the scheme? My girlfriend didn't get one when she moved in), it's a shared house and one of the international people living here have asked him for proof its in the scheme but he hasn't replied.

Does wording it as a 'bond' somehow get him out of needing to put it in the scheme?

If it doesn't, wouldn't not putting it in the scheme screw him over? If say he was taken to court over the deposit for whatever reason, what would happen if he hadn't put the money in the protection scheme?

Voyager2002

You are right: if the deposit has not been protected then the tenants could take him to court and claim not just the amount of the deposit but a penalty of up to three times that amount.

Pixie5740

Calling it a bond doesn't make it different to a deposit.

Does the landlord live in the property? I'm assuming he doesn't so all deposit, bonds or whatever he wants to call them, must be protected by law. To be honest I wouldn't make too much of it at the moment. I'd keep it up my sleeve to use as a bargaining chip for when the tenancy ends just in case he plays silly buggers about giving your deposit back.

Eric5765

Thanks for the replies; that was my thought, I have no proof (Although no DPS receipt has been provided, which I did receive with previous landlords/letting agencies) and don't exactly want to accuse him of anything so I'd rather just leave it, and if he does mess us around there's always that option which would work in our favor.

cloo

It sounds like he hasn't protected it... this 'bond' stuff is nonsense.


Remember also that the landlord cannot give notice to tenants if he has not protected the deposit.

agrinnall

Your LL has 30 days to provide the information on deposit protection, if they don't then they are in breach of the regulations.

https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/information-landlords-must-give-tenants

macman

There are only three deposit schemes, so search online with each to see if it's been registered. Shared house: is this an HMO, AST, or what? Not just a lodging arrangement?
If there are gas appliances in the property, have you received a gas safety certificate? If not, the LL is in deep trouble, if reported.