Landlord Released Deposit - Now Wants It Back

trevormax

Sounds like the LL is trying to circumvent the deposit scheme mediation process to me. They have already lied to you once saying that the money was released due to some system error, likely in an effort to get you to hand all of the deposit back. Once the money is returned, they can then claim whatever damage they want and you have very little recourse to counter it since they have the money, something the deposit scheme is in place to prevent.
 
The flat was signed off as being in good condition a week ago, so any new damage found can not be proven to have been caused by you. 
Tell the agency that you will not entertain any discussion of returning the money and you have a valid check out report which confirms you left the flat in good undamaged condition.  

2bFrank

Very unlikely that the landlord will get anything back, especially with releasing the deposit and the checkout report.

The only thing ive every seen the landlord get anything back is if the tenant has hidden something, e.g. damaged a floor and hidden it with some boxes or something. In these cases the landlord usually gets full amount that they request as it looks dishonest by the tenant. As long as everything was checked and you haven't hidden anything then dont worry. Landlord prob going to take you to court it its unlikely they would win.

beckyyc17

He wants to make £400 of deductions for things like loose door hinges (which we reported and they never fixed), £25 for a new bathroom bin with a tiny dent in (so small I didn't notice it was dented), a whole new storage unit for £40 due to a small mark on top. Now we've lost our entitlement of free arbitration from the deposit scheme I feel they are trying to over-claim on things which usually would not be allowed.

moneysavinghero

Just ignore him. The courts will see his attempt to dodge the arbitration process for what it is (if he ever bothers going that far - he probably won't, he is just hoping you will cough up).

jimbog

As Zammo would say: 'Just say no'

pluto261

beckyyc17 said:

He wants to make £400 of deductions for things like loose door hinges (which we reported and they never fixed), £25 for a new bathroom bin with a tiny dent in (so small I didn't notice it was dented), a whole new storage unit for £40 due to a small mark on top. Now we've lost our entitlement of free arbitration from the deposit scheme I feel they are trying to over-claim on things which usually would not be allowed.

Yeah, he's just trying it on. Imagine him trying to explain to a judge, with a straight face, that he needs to buy a whole new bin because the current one has a mark on it. He's just hoping you'll give him money because you don't know any better.

Send a final email to the letting agent saying you consider the matter resolved and won't be responding again. Then block their email/phone number if they keep trying to harass you.