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suing landlord - as an expat abroad

24

Comments

  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    whitehorse123 wrote: »
    Hi

    Im an expat so am not around for a small claims attendance, but can you suggest either
    a good law firm to sue my ex Uk landlord for not protecting or returning the deposit.

    If i can afford to pay them directly, is it better to avoid no-win no-fee solictors who will take
    25% of the deposit and the compensation, or are they worth the fee?

    any suggestions on a firm?

    thanks



    I'd take 25% over a £/hour solicitor!


    A solicitor will charge you an hourly rate of, even at the lower end, £200 an hour. Even at fixed fee I'd expect it to be £500-750, and that's in my area.
  • steampowered
    steampowered Posts: 6,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 23 August 2017 at 5:33PM
    Frankly I am surprised that anybody is willing to take on cases like this on a no-win-no-fee basis at all.

    I don't see how it can be profitable - unless the solicitor uses paralegals to do all the work, and they don't do much more than write a letter to the landlord.

    25% of the deposit sounds extremely cheap and reasonable. This is hardly a multi-million pound case.

    The reason why nothing comes out of your damages in larger cases and personal injury cases is that, if you are successful, your legal costs are paid by the defendant. This is not the case in small claims proceedings: you generally cannot recover legal costs from the defendant and so your legal costs will have to be paid by you.
  • steampowered
    steampowered Posts: 6,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pinkshoes wrote: »
    It is a very simple procedure. Could you get a friend to do it on your behalf?

    If the landlord defended a court claim, the Op would need to attend court in person. A friend could not speak on his behalf (unless the friend happens to be a qualified solicitor or barrister).
  • parkrunner
    parkrunner Posts: 2,610 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    whitehorse123 wrote: »
    ..Is it anything to do with this?...

    why would it?

    I've no idea hence the question.
    It's nothing , not nothink.
  • whitehorse123
    whitehorse123 Posts: 24 Forumite
    Second Anniversary
    parkrunner wrote: »
    I've no idea hence the question.

    im ok with that :beer:
  • IAmWales
    IAmWales Posts: 2,024 Forumite
    Guest101 wrote: »
    I'd take 25% over a £/hour solicitor!


    A solicitor will charge you an hourly rate of, even at the lower end, £200 an hour. Even at fixed fee I'd expect it to be £500-750, and that's in my area.

    And as very limited costs can be reclaimed at small claims, OP could find himself paying more than they are awarded.

    Is this for you OP or for your new tenant? You did have a bee in your bonnet about their old LL.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    IAmWales wrote: »
    And as very limited costs can be reclaimed at small claims, OP could find himself paying more than they are awarded.

    Is this for you OP or for your new tenant? You did have a bee in your bonnet about their old LL.
    Does seeems strange. Couple of months ago you'd become a landlord. Now you want to sue your landlord.........
  • whitehorse123
    whitehorse123 Posts: 24 Forumite
    Second Anniversary
    IAmWales wrote: »
    And as very limited costs can be reclaimed at small claims, OP could find himself paying more than they are awarded.

    Is this for you OP or for your new tenant? You did have a bee in your bonnet about their old LL.

    completely unrelated to my old tenant, and i think you were right anyway about that
  • whitehorse123
    whitehorse123 Posts: 24 Forumite
    Second Anniversary
    G_M wrote: »
    Does seeems strange. Couple of months ago you'd become a landlord. Now you want to sue your landlord.........

    youve got nothing else better to do? yeah, its so strange that im a landlord, and used to rent. weird.
  • SnooksNJ
    SnooksNJ Posts: 829 Forumite
    parkrunner wrote: »
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5694804

    Is it anything to do with this?
    this poster seems to think so.
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72989317#Comment_72989317
This discussion has been closed.
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