Advice needed on renting deposits

imsi

My daughter has just finished uni and is moving into a rented house with 3 friends. They have paid a deposit and advance rent to the agent but when the first of them went to move in yesterday they found that the repairs and cleaning that had been agreed 2 weeks ago had not been done (old furniture and rubbish inside and out, painting not done properly,and more). They refused to move in and agent has organised a cleaner and a meet with landlord. They have not yet signed the lease and intend to ask LL to move forward the start date a week on condition the agreed repairs are done.

If they don't get the house in a satisfactory state and decide not to move in, how much of the deosit/advance rent can they expect to get back?

Any other advice, links, or warnings of pitfalls they should watch out for would be appreciated.

Loretta

I think that they have done well already - they have refused to move in.

I would stick with this, give the agent and landlord a date, maybe 7 days, when you want the house to be in proper order, the order they were promised and tell them that they require the start of the tenancy to be that date. You do not pay rent on a house that is not fit to be in or as promised.

When they meet with the landlord, preferably at the house, if it not as it should be take photoes and make a detailed list of what is wrong and refuse to take it. Check an up to date gas safety certificate etc. Go immediately to the agent with a letter saying that as THEY and the landlord have failed to honour their side of the agreement even after being given a 2nd chance you have no option but to withdraw from the agreement as they already have and you want your money back NOW. follow this up by sending the letter by recorded delivery insisting on all your money being returned within 7 days or you will take them to the County Court without any further notice - and do it.

The Landlord and the agent have done all this before you move in, imagine if when you are living there you need to have repairs done, winter is coming, imagine if the boiler breaks down, you would never get it done and the battle for the return of the deposit doesn't bear thinking about!

They ae just starting out in life and have learnt a valuable lesson already and they have handled it perfectly - good luck

I keep saying it - I hate these amateur landlords!!

clutton_2

have you had a letter from a Tenancy deposit Scheme acknowledging receipt of your deposit yet ? if not , then the landlord still has it.