Getting back Holding Deposit

SaveyMcSaveface

Hi all,
I have just moved back to the UK from Germany. I was due to have an apartment from 1st Feb, however it is stuck in referencing as my German landlord is not responding to any referencing requests, from myself or the referencing agency. It is now 8 days since I was supposed to have the apartment and the referencing agency will not budge on getting the reference. I have offered bank statements and the rental contract to show I have paid this rent. I have offered alternative landlords to contact from some years ago in the UK and there is nothing they will take apart from the current German landlord.

I am now in a London hotel because I needed somewhere to stay. I don't want to be here indefinitely but I also do not want to loose the £500 Holding deposit. I saw the apartment in early January. Referencing has now been going on for over 3 weeks.

I was led to believe that a landlord is under no obligation to provide a reference. Yet here I am stuck in limbo.

I was intending to look for an apartment that may be a bit more understanding in this matter and I was wondering if there is any recourse to potentially get this deposit back. Especially since we are over one week since the perspective move in date.

Also to note I paid this deposit on a credit card to get some coverage there.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Bossypants

SaveyMcSaveface wrote: »

I also do not want to loose the £500 Holding deposit.

How much money have you already spent on a hotel? How much more do you need to spend before you decide that losing the £500 is 'worth it'?

Unless you can think of some way to make your ex landlord give you the reference, or you can appeal to the letting agent and/or landlord's sense of reason, your £500 is gone and you're not getting it back, no matter what. Make your decision as to what happens next with this in mind. Look up 'sunk cost fallacy' as this is what you are in danger of falling into.