Deposit dispute

christie2501

I moved out of my old rented property on Tuesday 30th of April. My deposit is held in a deposit scheme which I have all references and confirmation for in writing. This was accommodated by a letting agent. The landlord then privately managed the property.

I have 2 issues here

1) I still have not received my deposit back. I did not ask for it back in writing until Saturday 4th May. I emailed the letting agent who rang me saying they were in contact with the landlord who was providing them with a quote for cleaning the property which will be withdrawn from my deposit. I cannot contact the landlord as he refused to give me his details so I can only request it through the letting agent. My question is.. does it still count as written notice as I have sent it to the letting agent rather than the landlord and what do I do now it has been 2 weeks?

2) When the letting agent rang me, they stated that the landlord would be deducting money from the deposit due to deep cleaning the property and cleaning the oven. When I queried what cleaning needed doing, as we cleaned the property and oven prior to leaving, the letting agent stated that he was having the oven taken apart and cleaned for the next tenant and wanted a clean before the next tenant. I should also state that I never received an inventory for the property when I moved in as the letting agent said the landlord would provide this and never did. Neither was it in writing how the property should be left, however, I’m not a heathen and I didn’t leave the property as a disgrace despite this! My second question is.. Isn’t deposit only deducted due to damage to the property or extensive cleaning needed? I feel that these are expenses he would have had to pay prior to a new tenant anyway and can he justify this without an inventory?

Any answers would be much appreciated!

Slithery

Just claim the full amount back from the relevant deposit scheme now.

The LL will have to prove any deductions that they wish to make which without a check-in inventory may prove to be very difficult.

Read...
Deposits

dimbo61

The Landlord was being lazy by not getting an inventory done when you moved in.
Photos are good and a video inventory even better.
He / she can't prove what condition of the property when you moved in so can't make deductions without evidence.
Contact the deposit people and ask for your full deposit back.
Dispute any and all deductions and wait for the landlord to prove why they want to charge for cleaning or damage.

jbainbridge

Claim the deposit directly from the scheme. Dispute any deductions ... the lack of any check in inventory will make deductions very difficult.

00ec25

it is good that you have established the deposit is held in a scheme

it is bad that you have not thought to find out how the scheme dispute process operates because that is what you have - the schemes were set up for exactly this reason, so use it

G_M

christie2501 wrote: »

1) .....My question is.. does it still count as written notice as I have sent it to the letting agent rather than the landlord and what do I do now it has been 2 weeks?
what is the address provided to you "for serving notices" on the landlord? It may be the LL's home, the agent, the LL's mum...... but that is where you write.

2) ....... the letting agent stated that he was having the oven taken apart and cleaned for the next tenant and wanted a clean before the next tenant.
was this done for you before you moved in?
If yes, then unless you cleaned it to the same standard, the LL can do this and educt he cost
If it was not done for you, then you cannot be expected to pay for it to be done when you leave.

....My second question is.. Isn’t deposit only deducted due to damage to the property or extensive cleaning needed? I feel that these are expenses he would have had to pay prior to a new tenant anyway and can he justify this without an inventory?

The LL can claim for any damage you did during your tenancy
He can claim for any cleaning required to return the property tothe same level of cleanliness as it was when your tenancy started.

Making that comparison is normally done by comparing check-in and check-out inspections, so without both, the LL has more dificulty. However there are other ways to make the comparison eg receipts from a cleaning company at the start, evidence that (for example) the oven was brand new at the start etc

Now make a claim via the scheme!