Live in LandLady wasn't self isolating so moved out and wont give me my deposit

katieballer12345

I moved in to a flat with a live in landlady just before the lockdown and just shy of a month later I had to move out as my health was at risk because the live in landlady was not self isolating during this Covid 19 Pandemic.  She was going to several peoples houses most days against the government advice.  She didnt htink there was anything wrong with this.  I didn't give any notice to leave as she had booked non essential workman to come into the house the next day along with another for the following week and my house wasn't going to be safe, let alone her mixing with people outside of the house.. She knows I have asthma but doesn't think its wrong to mix with people during the pandemic.  I don't have a tenancy agreement. We didn't even have a verbal agreement of duration or anything.. we just said move in.  I did request a deposit protection scheme certificate but she never gave me one and don't think she registered it.  I wasn't there even 30 days which is how long they have to register the deposit.  I was definitely at risk of being infected if I stayed there. For health reasons I don't think I had any choice but to leave.  I'm now in an empty air bnb flat for the duration of quarantine until i am able to look for a new flat.  We left on good terms hugging and she said i could come back any time I wanted if I changed my mind.  She text me to say she would give me the deposit but now i have had zero communication from her and she wont answer any messages.  Do i have a leg to stand on in claiming my deposit back? She wont answer me 

p00hsticks

It sounds as if you are a lodger rather than a tenant - if so, there's no obligation for her to be formally protecting your deposit.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/return_of_a_lodgers_deposit

With no tenancy agreement to say otherwise, then as you've left giving no notice then I believe she could claim either four weeks (if you pay weekly) or one months (if you pay monthly) rent in lieu of notice.

https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/ending-a-letting

If she's not showing any signs of the virus then she doesn't need to be self-isolating, although she should be practising social distancing - i.e. only going out for essential journeys (work, shopping, medicine) and not visiting other households.  Not really a good idea to hug her if she's not doing this though !

PS - if you have any follow up questions you may attract a more appropriate audience if you post over on the Housing Letting, Renting and Selling board

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling