Deposit Misery .... :O(

lynzpower

Tori_Bellatrix wrote: »

My AST finished yesterday and I have moved out of of my current rental property ! My LL said she wanted to inspect the property as expected but she gave me a non-neogotiable time for me to be there. I couldn't make it so she said she would inspect the property and meet me later ....

After she had inspected, she phoned me to say that whilst the upstairs was ok, she was unhappy with the oven fascia and hob. She said they had been scratched and she would need brand new replacements!! I said to her that the property had been cleaned thoroughly and there was nothing wrong with the items in question and that she had to allow for wear and tear! She then basically told me that she had my money and she could decide what was what ...

When I got to the property, she came over and literally balled me out for not taking care of her property, and everytime I tried to talk she literally shouted me down quite agressively! I was really upset with the way she treated me and by what she said - I have cleaned through-out, carpets professionally cleaned, garden professionally tidied, new loo seat, new mats, all nets and curtains cleaned....

The bottom line is that she has kept £458 out of my deposit (out of £650) and says I have to pay for a new oven and hob and for it to be fitted (for which she has guessed how much it would cost) ... I photographed these items and apart from wear and tear there really isn't anything wrong with them, They are fully operational and functional - However, when the LL installed them over 18 months ago, they were brand new and she expected them in the same condition.

She wouldn't compromise, didn't wish to discuss it and basically told me I'd have to accept it.

I may have pointed out on other threads that she has not completed any inventory - all I had was a First Schedule which lists 3 items (none of which was the oven), didn't protect my deposit when I signed my renewal AST last August and I now literally feel like I've been steam rollered.

I suppose my only recourse is via the courts ...

Dont worry honey, im in the same boat too ( well ish, my LA is just not communicating) so hi ho hi ho its off to court I go.

Im not really that bothered, its not overly stressful and to be honest you have a cast iron case there, and court will find in favour.

All you need to do is hold your nerve, dont panic, take it calmly and remember, the longer she has your money, the longer you aree entitlerd to a whopping 8% court interest, thats more than youll get in most banks

:beer: theres always a sunny side

Tori_Bellatrix

lynzpower wrote: »

Dont worry honey, im in the same boat too ( well ish, my LA is just not communicating) so hi ho hi ho its off to court I go.

Im not really that bothered, its not overly stressful and to be honest you have a cast iron case there, and court will find in favour.

All you need to do is hold your nerve, dont panic, take it calmly and remember, the longer she has your money, the longer you aree entitlerd to a whopping 8% court interest, thats more than youll get in most banks

:beer: theres always a sunny side

That's the key for me really .... normally I'll do anything for a quiet life but I'm not going to let her get away with the way she has treated me ... She was damned horrible yesterday - She told me that I wasn't even entitled to disagree - I had to agree to what she said and that was it - The fact that she thinks I have to buy her a new oven and hob for a small amount of surface wear and tear really beggers belief ... my family and friends wondered how I kept my cool with her but I knew losing my temper wouldn't get me anywhere ... I just need to bide my time ..

clutton_2

go get her tori !!! stick to your guns - and glad to see Dozer back to her usual fighting form again !!!

Kez100

You go for it girl. I admire your cool and you deserve your day of glory. Keep this thread open and post updates for us Tori. She's a bully.

Tori_Bellatrix

Kez100 wrote: »

You go for it girl. I admire your cool and you deserve your day of glory. Keep this thread open and post updates for us Tori. She's a bully.

Awww... thanks Kez ... I will keep thread updated with progress ..

The carpet cleaning man also called her a bully .... and that describes her perfectly ...

Loretta

Tori_Bellatrix wrote: »

That's the key for me really .... normally I'll do anything for a quiet life but I'm not going to let her get away with the way she has treated me ... She was damned horrible yesterday - She told me that I wasn't even entitled to disagree - I had to agree to what she said and that was it - The fact that she thinks I have to buy her a new oven and hob for a small amount of surface wear and tear really beggers belief ... my family and friends wondered how I kept my cool with her but I knew losing my temper wouldn't get me anywhere ... I just need to bide my time ..

It is easier to not lose your temper when you know you are 100% right. She is not only in the wrong but horrible with it!

Tori_Bellatrix

Loretta wrote: »

It is easier to not lose your temper when you know you are 100% right. She is not only in the wrong but horrible with it!

The whole situation makes me feel sick ... I've had sleepless nights over it since Sunday (the day before it happened - I just had a feeling that it wouldn't go smoothly) and I'm carrying round a horrible anxious feeling! What she has done is nothing short of theft (in my eyes). I know that sounds a bit OTT but she really has no cause to do what she is doing

Also, when I left she handed me a letter stating why she felt she had to have brand new equipment and also had the audicity to lie and say that when I moved in, she specifically told me about cleaning a stainless steel hob and oven, she 'apparantly' told me it had protective film coating and that she actually provided cleaning fluids! What a brass neck - it's totally untrue and she doesn't have any inventory to back this up ...

nobblyned

Don't forget as alluded to above, if you signed a new AST after April and she failed to protect the deposit in one of the regulated schemes then you can claim back 3 times the deposit. The issue of inventory and damage becomes irrelavent if she has failed to do this, as the claim is automatic.

Did you sign a new AST after April? And did she protect the deposit?

Guy_Montag

Tori_Bellatrix wrote: »

The whole situation makes me feel sick ... I've had sleepless nights over it since Sunday (the day before it happened - I just had a feeling that it wouldn't go smoothly) and I'm carrying round a horrible anxious feeling! What she has done is nothing short of theft (in my eyes). I know that sounds a bit OTT but she really has no cause to do what she is doing

Also, when I left she handed me a letter stating why she felt she had to have brand new equipment and also had the audicity to lie and say that when I moved in, she specifically told me about cleaning a stainless steel hob and oven, she 'apparantly' told me it had protective film coating and that she actually provided cleaning fluids! What a brass neck - it's totally untrue and she doesn't have any inventory to back this up ...

Same advice as I gave DG & others. Take a couple of deep breaths & focus on what you're going to do.

Firstly you should decide if you want to threaten the money out of her, or just start the court proceedings. To threaten her, I would suggest writing to her explaining very carefully & politely that since she did not protect the deposit as she is legally required to do, she could a fine of £1950 if you take her to court, regardless of whether her claim on your deposit is justified. Give her seven days to return the deposit in full.

Then come back here & we'll start on the court case.

Good luck!

btw. your name makes you sound like a !!!!!! star

Tori_Bellatrix

nobblyned wrote: »

Don't forget as alluded to above, if you signed a new AST after April and she failed to protect the deposit in one of the regulated schemes then you can claim back 3 times the deposit. The issue of inventory and damage becomes irrelavent if she has failed to do this, as the claim is automatic.

Did you sign a new AST after April? And did she protect the deposit?

Hi, yes .. I signed a new AST in August 2007 ... I spoke to a solicitor yesterday and he said exactly the same as you ... that the issue of inventory and damage doesn't matter as she failed to protect my deposit ....