Letting Agents Returning Deposit?

divadee

Hi we ended our tenancy last Wednesday (07/09) we were not able to be at the checkout as the letting agents refused to give a time and we had to hand the keys into them at 9am (so glad to be out of the control of this letting agents). We have had no contact from them since.

The deposit is held in the TDS insured scheme so basically the agents hold the deposit with it insurance backed by the TDS.

We have just called them and asked what's going on, and they told my partner the checkout was done last Wednesday and that we will receive a check in the next few days for the deposit minus any deductions. Partner asked what deductions and the lady he spoke didn't know if there were any as she didn't deal with the checkout and it will be with her colleagues personal files that she doesn't have access to. She said we will just have to wait until we receive the letter and cheque.

What do we do in this situation if they have deducted massive amounts? I knew they would try this as they are the most petty, unreasonable letting agents ever!! At an inspection we were deducted points on their scores for having a dusty mirror. :-/

Should we contact after we have received the letter, disputing the amount and just not bank the cheque? Obviously we may have a very pleasant surprise and it be the full amount but we both find it unlikely. We have got pictures of every room, had a professional clean at the end so we have evidence to back it all up.

Pixie5740

If you haven't received anything 10 calendar days after your tenancy ended raise a dispute with TDS. If you do receive something and disagree with the deductions raise a dispute with TDS.

https://www.tenancydepositscheme.com/tenants-FAQs.html

Guest101

divadee wrote: »

Hi we ended our tenancy last Wednesday (07/09) we were not able to be at the checkout as the letting agents refused to give a time and we had to hand the keys into them at 9am (so glad to be out of the control of this letting agents). We have had no contact from them since. - You didn't have to do with, but anyway.

The deposit is held in the TDS insured scheme so basically the agents hold the deposit with it insurance backed by the TDS. - Yep

We have just called them and asked what's going on, and they told my partner the checkout was done last Wednesday and that we will receive a check in the next few days for the deposit minus any deductions. Partner asked what deductions and the lady he spoke didn't know if there were any as she didn't deal with the checkout and it will be with her colleagues personal files that she doesn't have access to. She said we will just have to wait until we receive the letter and cheque. - Seems reasonable

What do we do in this situation if they have deducted massive amounts? I knew they would try this as they are the most petty, unreasonable letting agents ever!! At an inspection we were deducted points on their scores for having a dusty mirror. :-/ - Presumebly at this point you asked them politely to leave your home?

Should we contact after we have received the letter, disputing the amount and just not bank the cheque? Obviously we may have a very pleasant surprise and it be the full amount but we both find it unlikely. We have got pictures of every room, had a professional clean at the end so we have evidence to back it all up.

Feel free to bank the cheque, that is not deemed acceptance of the deduction. It's standard procedure to release any undisputed parts of a deposit.


If their proposing deductions and you dispute it, the balance should be transferred to the TDS anyway

divadee

Sorry scheme was DPS not TDS my mistake!!!! But it is definitely insurance backed and not custodial.

divadee

Guest101 wrote: »

Feel free to bank the cheque, that is not deemed acceptance of the deduction. It's standard procedure to release any undisputed parts of a deposit.


If their proposing deductions and you dispute it, the balance should be transferred to the TDS anyway

Ok. So we just contact the DPS and say we dispute £xxx and which to go to an adjudicator?

It just seems an odd way of doing it for what others have gone through. My partner with his ex rental just had to log in and could do it all online. We don't have that option with the way this letting agents do it. They seem to hold all the cards and power!

Guest101

divadee wrote: »

Ok. So we just contact the DPS and say we dispute £xxx and which to go to an adjudicator?

It just seems an odd way of doing it for what others have gone through. My partner with his ex rental just had to log in and could do it all online. We don't have that option with the way this letting agents do it. They seem to hold all the cards and power!

Not really, I know you can see differences, but its really all the same.


The agent proposes deductions, you either agree or you dispute.


That's always the procedure.


Your partner may have made a single claim on the deposit which is slightly different (if the agent or LL is unresponsive you can do this)

divadee

Thanks guest. Will let you know when the letter and cheque arrives!! Which ahould be by Saturday this week. Hhmmm. We will see

divadee

Well the phone call from my other half must of done something as we have just had a letter hand delivered through the door with a cheque for the full deposit amount!!!!

Guest101

divadee wrote: »

Well the phone call from my other half must of done something as we have just had a letter hand delivered through the door with a cheque for the full deposit amount!!!!

Congrats don't spend it all at once

divadee

Guest101 wrote: »

Congrats don't spend it all at once

It will go to pay the builder we have working on our newly purchased property!!! So will be gone as soon as cleared. Lol.

Prothet_of_Doom

I'd like to believe that most landlords and letting agents are reasonable people. But it seems some are not. In this case they clearly know that they will loose in a depute situation, and I would advise any tenant, to state during any conversation about deposits something like.

"That damage/scuff/mark/etc will be considered Fair wear and tear if we have to go to arbitration" or "Well assuming that the carpet was secondhand when we moved in, and that there is an expectation that they would need replacing within about 5 years, we probably owe you about 1/10th the original value, assuming you have the original receipt. Again I'm happy to go to arbitration"
or "Well we never actually saw or signed an inventory, so happy to go to arbitration"
or "Pass me the cloth, There. Cobweb gone"

(I'm a landlord but I hate people who try it on, from both sides)