Former tenants asking for invoices from months ago.

lookstraightahead

So you have the agreed deductions in writing and you can get hold of invoices. As you do not need to give them invoices anyway just say no and carry on with your life. They will react how they want to.

missile

If I were you, I would respectfully decline their request and cease all communication. Bar their phone and e mail if they become a nuisance.
No need to justify, simply respond
"We had an agreement regarding damaged and cleaning which was deducted from your deposit. I am not prepared to provide receipts"

Make sure all my paperwork is in order, so in the unlikely event you can produce evidence if and when required.

Did you provide a reference for this tenant?

Detroit

I'm wondering if there's a genuine misunderstanding here.

You say your tenants agreed to an estimated amount deducted, for expediency as they wanted their deposit back.

Is it possible they thought the amount retained would be adjusted when the actual costs of the work were known?

Doesn't alter their (lack of rights) to the invoice but could explain their actions.

do163600

You could just tell them you did the cleaning and repairs yourself, so you don't have an invoice to give them.

Mulder00

theartfullodger wrote: »

We don't want tax & benefit cheats in our fair country.

And when HMRC do a surprise tax investigation on your tax return what evidence will you have of this expenditure?

Not declaring an expense is not tax fraud. An expense for repairs will reduce tax liability, not increase it.

lookstraightahead

No but you should not pay cash in hand either without asking for a receipt as that person should be declaring their income to HMRC, and on top of this to give the consumer peace of mind for when circumstances like this arise, or if the workmanship is faulty. Being a landlord is a business and it is good practice to get receipts for everything.

00ec25

lookstraightahead wrote: »

No but you should not pay cash in hand either without asking for a receipt as that person should be declaring their income to HMRC, and on top of this to give the consumer peace of mind for when circumstances like this arise, or if the workmanship is faulty. Being a landlord is a business and it is good practice to get receipts for everything.

does not alter the fact that the LL is not required to either have works done or provide evidence that they have been done to the tenant

a deposit deduction is compensation to the LL for damage to their property, not a charge for services performed

lookstraightahead

Yes I know you are right. Having said that the landlord said he did have the work carried out. Maybe the tenant knows it was done more cheapky and is peeved. I had this done to me when work for replacing curtains was deducted - stains not pointed out on the inventory but nothing I could do as a tenant. However they were never replaced as I live locally and drove past the property every day. Landlords prerogative but I thought about suing for other things they did not do properly as landlords. It was too much faff in the end and I walked away.

caronoel

phil_han wrote: »

Thanks for some good pointers.

Answers to your questions.
Yes, I do have the deduction agreement in writing.
I used a custodial scheme for protecting deposit.
I have the quotes in e-mail from the tradesman, and requested for the copy of receipt.

My question is: Am I obliged to provide an invoice?

I mean... I would be happy to amend any wrongs that I've caused.
But in this situation, I did everything as properly as I could.

Only mistakes I made were:
(a) I forgot to ask for a receipt from the tradesman (being rectified as of now.)
(b) I agreed to the tenant's suggestion about using estimation for deduction. (for which I have the written evidences for)

Should I lawyer up? :huh:

Your best course of action is to ignore them completely. As others have pointed out repeatedly, you are under no obligation to provide them with receipts.

Do not engage in any correspondence, and block their phone number.

buggy_boy

When you returned the deposit in the approved scheme, you would have made the deductions, at this point the tenants have an opportunity to challenge the deductions... They obviously did not do this so case closed....

Its up to you if you provide proof, personally I would not bother as it sounds like they have spoken to someone 'In the know' at a dinner party who has told them something...

I would just reply saying the works have been carried out. As per the deposit protection scheme you would have had a chance to challenge those deductions... As you accepted the deductions the case is closed...

The deposit protection scheme is in place to given tenants the chance to challenge the deductions, they cannot accept the deductions and then later change their minds.