What is a reasonable amount of time for rental deposit to be returned?

Yorkie1974

We moved out of a rental property a month ago which we'd live in for five years. Following the inspection, the agent told us of a couple of minor cleaning issues (which I dispute) and that the carpets needed professional cleaning as there were pet hairs present (fair enough, we had two dogs, and though we'd vacuumed and shampooed the carpets, there was still the odd hair here and there).


A month on and the agent still hasn't released our deposit, saying that she hasn't yet had the cleaning costs confirmed.


Our deposit is protected, and though it *should* be returned within ten calendar days, there is a clause that says that the agency must advise of any deductions within a 'reasonable' time.


When should I start a formal complaint with the deposit protection company?

HappyMJ

Ten days. You then start an informal complaint with the letting agent on the 11th day giving them a further week to repay it in full then 8 days later you start a formal complaint requesting the lot.

A letting agent must know what it costs to get a cleaner in with a vacuum cleaner designed to pick up pet hairs and vacuum the carpet so this should have been advised to you on the same day.

Pixie5740

You should login to whichever scheme your deposit is registered with and claim it back now. A month is taking the pi55.

agrinnall

I wouldn't even have waited as long as HappyMJ says, I'd have reclaimed it from the scheme after a week.

bigfreddiel

One week is reasonable, start charging £5 per day till it gets paid.

Miss_Samantha

The tenant can claim the deposit form the scheme all she wants, this won't make things faster if the landlord does not want to return the deposit at that time.

Pixie5740

Miss_Samantha wrote: »

The tenant can claim the deposit form the scheme all she wants, this won't make things faster if the landlord does not want to return the deposit at that time.

It wouldn't hurt. It is possible to have a single claim which can occur when either the landlord or tenant fails to respond to initial discussions regarding the return of the deposit. The scheme will then attempt to contact the other party, and if unsuccessful will return the deposit to the claimant. The OP would need to check with whichever scheme has been used for the full details of the process. Making the claim will either gee the LL into action or the OP will get their full deposit back. Win-win for the OP.

Kynthia

I'd say 3 weeks is enough time for the check out inspection to be done, typed up, posted or emailed to the landlord, and then reviewed. They then may want to pop around if there's an issue and arrange for any relevant contractors to go in and quote for work, send the quote to the landlord and the landlord to calculate if any deductions for apportionment need to be applied, before letting the agent know how much they want to deduct from the deposit and then for them to contact you.

Obviously it could be quicker, especially if everyone is happy at the state the property is left in. However a month means you've been patient enough and should make a claim.

Yorkie1974

Thank you for all the responses - I'll get on with lodging a dispute now then!