Landlord blackmailing us?

ND1982

Hoping someone can help.

We've just moved out of a property and the letting agents are really testing our patience when it comes to dilapidations. We've agreed to certain things - like forgetting to change some lightbulbs and are releasing funds to put those things right but other things we are disputing.

Well... today the letting agents said that a 'mark' on wooden flooring (which looks like it's just worn and we believe is wear and tear) needs to be fixed for £350 but if we agree, the landlord said we can pay £50 and they'll pay the rest. We declined to pay £50 as it honestly looks like it's worn and i had noted on the initial inventory 'marks to the floor' (which the agents are saying wasn't detailed enough to be classed as that mark). Now the agent has emailed us saying they'll go to the adjudicator asking for the full £350 to repair it as we declined the £50 offer. Is this allowed? it sounds like the kind of tactics car clampers use toget you to pay quickly.

Also. When the letting agent checked us out, we weren't present but they gave us their report. However, 3 days after emailing us their checkout report, they came forward adding something else they had found - a mark on the carpet in the lounge. They're charging us for that to be cleaned again however, we're disputing this as it couldn't been done by anyone - the agents, landlords, viewers of the property and not us as we didn't have the keys any longer. Are they allowed to do this? they're insisting we made the mark and it wasn't picked up as the carpets were wet when they completed their checkout report. Are they chancing their arm?

We're now taking this to the TDS and will let an adjudicator decide but wanted to see if anyone else has any opinions on how all this runs out as we've never had this before in my 20 years of renting.
Appreciate your thoughts.

Comms69

ND1982 wrote: »

Hoping someone can help.

We've just moved out of a property and the letting agents are really testing our patience when it comes to dilapidations. We've agreed to certain things - like forgetting to change some lightbulbs and are releasing funds to put those things right but other things we are disputing. - So dispute it through the deposit scheme - that's why it's there

Well... today the letting agents said that a 'mark' on wooden flooring (which looks like it's just worn and we believe is wear and tear) needs to be fixed for £350 but if we agree, the landlord said we can pay £50 and they'll pay the rest. We declined to pay £50 as it honestly looks like it's worn and i had noted on the initial inventory 'marks to the floor' (which the agents are saying wasn't detailed enough to be classed as that mark). - not your problem. Now the agent has emailed us saying they'll go to the adjudicator asking for the full £350 to repair it as we declined the £50 offer. Is this allowed? it sounds like the kind of tactics car clampers use toget you to pay quickly. - ofcourse it's allowed, doesn't mean they'll succeed

Also. When the letting agent checked us out, we weren't present but they gave us their report. However, 3 days after emailing us their checkout report, they came forward adding something else they had found - a mark on the carpet in the lounge. - yes that's fine, they have 6 years to chase you They're charging us for that to be cleaned again however, we're disputing this as it couldn't been done by anyone - the agents, landlords, viewers of the property and not us as we didn't have the keys any longer. Are they allowed to do this? they're insisting we made the mark and it wasn't picked up as the carpets were wet when they completed their checkout report. Are they chancing their arm? - don't know. but they can make a valid claim for upto 6 years after you move out

We're now taking this to the TDS and will let an adjudicator decide but wanted to see if anyone else has any opinions on how all this runs out as we've never had this before in my 20 years of renting.
Appreciate your thoughts.

Where's the blackmail?

parkrunner

ND1982 wrote: »

Well... today the letting agents said that a 'mark' on wooden flooring (which looks like it's just worn and we believe is wear and tear) needs to be fixed for £350 but if we agree, the landlord said we can pay £50 and they'll pay the rest. We declined to pay £50 as it honestly looks like it's worn and i had noted on the initial inventory 'marks to the floor' (which the agents are saying wasn't detailed enough to be classed as that mark). Now the agent has emailed us saying they'll go to the adjudicator asking for the full £350 to repair it as we declined the £50 offer. Is this allowed? it sounds like the kind of tactics car clampers use toget you to pay quickly.

If you have that in writing then send the TDS a copy. It certainly won't harm your claim.

jonnygee2

Also. When the letting agent checked us out, we weren't present but they gave us their report. However, 3 days after emailing us their checkout report, they came forward adding something else they had found

Completely ignore this, you have a checkout report written by them which doesn't mention it. No way they can claim that back.

Also the initial inventory says 'marks on the floor', so I don't think they'#ll be able to charge you for marks on the floor. If its not specific enough, thats really their problem not yours.

From what you've described I'd let the whole thing go to the deposit scheme dispute system.

G_M

this is what the deposit scheme arbitration process is for.


* Deposits: payment, protection and return