Return Of Bond

betty02

Been having a nightmare with this! The money was sent to a 3rd party (DPS) of £1575. The tenancy agreement was initially a 6 months one that started on the 6th Nov 2015. I then moved out on 5th Jan 2017.

Anyway, the landlady in all her defence has been very, very ill. I text her about my departure in October 2016 letting her know when I will be out with plenty of time (3 months notice).

She didn't reply after 2 weeks so I text again, and still nothing.

I then had no choice but to call the estate agents I rented through, and inform them of my departure. Which was fine. 2 days later is when I was told of her very serious illness and that she was in hospital.

Anyway the agents knew about my leaving date but made no contact about anything. So I left,without anyone walking around the flat with me. So I have now moved the 350 mile trip up north. Went on the DPS website and requested the return of my deposit.

Again nothing back. Had no choice but to text landlord again. She replied and said she has given the agents full control of sorting this out. So onto them I got, she said (agent lady) she went to the property today and it needed a clean (which i disagree with, was empty for 10 days prior and FULLY scrubbed, even got someone in to clean the over etc) so this annoyed me a little. Said I didn't remove my Christmas tree - which was false as it was taken to the tip. There was pines on the stairs in the communal hallway granted, but that area has been without lights for nearly 7 months and is PITCH black. There is no way to clean it in the dark, also probably against some H&S, I have been using my phone torch for 7 months, also fallen twice. Landlady put some battery operated lights in (2 tiny things about 1inch in size) they didn't help and ran out after a week or 2. I did report this. Again nothing happened.

So it is impossible to clean the communal part of the properly, i swept the majority up, and the neighbour above was fine about it and understood.

When I moved in there was 2 wardrobes and a bed left from previous tenant with a sign on saying if not needed then they can be chucked. So I had to myself remove these items from the flat. I left a small sofa in the flat with a similar note - but I am now being told I will be charged for removal? Yet it was left to me to remove the old tenants old possessions?

I sent an email on the 11th tot he agent stating all the above and more and had no reply by the 20th. So I sent another to say I have started a single claim process through DPS. The estate agents rang almost immediately and said they have nothing to do with the deposit and to speak with the landlord. So again, text, no reply. Then come in from an email today from the agents saying they will be taking pictures to send me by end of play today?

This has been going on for nearly a month, being passed from pillar to post, unsure where I stand. As said it was only a signed 6 month tenancy and we just kept paying so guess it just kept rolling? Although I cant see any wording in the agreement about this happening.

What can I do? I simply just want my deposit back - £1575 - It's a lot of money to me that I could do with!

Just sick of being ignored, passed around, and the only one chasing this. Some legal advice I can chuck at them would be great!


Thanks very much

Simon

(please excuse if any of this is scattered/jargon/makes no sense, my dyslexia on things like this is garbage, my mind runs away with what to type quicker then I can type it!!)

Pixie5740

You've started a single claim there's not much else you can do now. If your landlord disputes your claim then you have the option of using the scheme's arbitration service it's what it's for after all. The onus will be on your landlord to prove any deductions are reasonable. You left behind a sofa and you shouldn't have so yes your landlord can deduct money for it's removal. The fact that you chose to remove furniture left by previous tenants is by the by.

What's with all the texting? Did your tenancy agreement say that texting was an appropriate method of serving notice. Why didn't you/haven't you been contacting your landlord via the address for the serving of notices given in your tenancy agreement?

Edit: Read G_M's guide to Deposits: payment protection and return.

betty02

I just presumed as other things had been left it wouldn't of been an issue and maybe useful to the new owner as the sofa wasn't even 1 year old. However if this is the case I will take that on the chin.

I was advised by the agents to use text as the method off communication, due to her illness I guess. She also changed address, and I had no forwarding information of her new address. So wasn't able to do anything via writing. And no email was ever given.

Thanks