Advice needed on property management company still charging student son

stashy

Hi,

I'm hoping for some advice. My son was in London doing his masters and was staying in a room in a shared house. His tenancy was ending at the end of September but he finished his masters in July and informed them he'd like to end early, giving a month's notice.

We cleared his flat out on 7th August and he had the management company contact him saying it was fine and the agreement will terminate on the 17th August and a new tenant will move in on the 18th. On the 19th they took rent again covering 19th Aug to 18th Sept.  When he phoned them asking what was happening he seems to speak to different people who tell him something different each time, they accept someone has moved in but won't tell him when from and someone else told him he had to pay until 17th Sept even though a new tenant was in place, also they won't give the deposit back as it's not been checked over, we cleared and cleaned the room but what happens if this new tenant damages something?

I feel we're getting the run around, the management company are being slippery, surely Iif someone is in the room they can't charge my son for the same room when he's not there. 

This totals nearly £2k so not anything small.

Advice appreciated.

Thanks
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silvercar

How long was his fixed term? If he left early with consent of the landlord (hopefully in writing), he may still be responsible for the costs of finding a new tenant. Check his tenancy agreement.

If there are issues with the return of the deposit, check with whichever deposit scheme, if you can’t reach agreement with the landlord or agent.

Bookworm105

when he left did the LL give agreement to that early departure in writing?

what decent evidence do you have of the new tenant moving in?

charging separate people for an overlapping period is illegal.

DullGreyGuy

You say it was a house share... so were the rooms rented individually or was it a group of friends renting the whole house jointly?

anselld

How can they “take rent”?   Whatever payment method ( DD or SO) should have been cancelled by Son.

stashy

Thanks for the replies. It was a house share but with people he didn't know, it was five rooms and a communal kitchen and bathroom. 

We have it on writing that they are happy for him to leave his tenancy early as they have a new tenant moving in on the 18th August and he doesn't have to pay rent for the the period of August to September but then the direct debit went out on the 19th August. He was worried to cancel it in case the new tenant didn't move on and he may be liable for it, he has now cancelled it. When he spoke to them after the payment went out, it was another person who said they didn't know if the new tenant was in so he has to pay to to September, contradicting what he'd been told. 

I managed to get hold of them late afternoon yesterday and the person dealing with it was off until Monday so I have to wait but I highlighted it would be illegal to have a new tenant in place and still charge my son so we want the money back immediately. Fingers crossed. 

Thanks

stashy

Update, I've managed to secure the overpaid rent and deposit back. Well, within 5 working days so we'll see. Constant perseverance.