Landlord gave me my deposit back 3 months ago - now he wants to claim some back?!

Basira

Hi all,

I would just like to get some advice regarding my last tenancy. As you can see from the title of my post, my landlord has given me most of my tenancy deposit back from my last house which I moved out of 3 months ago and now he wants to claim some back, saying that there have been additional costs in cleaning etc.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should do? I have spoken to Shelter, who have told me that ultimately it would be up to the small claims court to decide if he took it that far. They say the judge would see it in my favour, seeing as him giving me back my deposit in the first place would indicate that he was happy with the state of the place. But now to come back 3 months later to say he has incurred further costs and wants some back seems a little strange. I am also concerned that because he verbally agreed to let me out of my contract early when I left, he could use this against me. For example he could say I just left - although then why would he have given me the deposit back and not flagged it up sooner I guess would be the argument against that. Obviously I would never just leave and if I had he would never have given me the money back.


Please help, I just don't know what to do.

Thanks so much.

mrsplinter

I would ignore it too. Surely handing you back your deposit is the end of the matter. Otherwise you would get landlords chasing you for years with more bills.

Tori_Bellatrix

Sounds like a rogue landlord to me OP ... TBH, if the LL has returned most of your deposit he is on a fairly loose footing now ... 3 months down the line to ask for more! Stand your ground ... Don't pay anything that you don't need to. How much did the LL withhold in the first place?

Basira

Thanks to all for your comments and advice - much appreciated. He withheld £75 which I agreed to and gave me £600 back 3 months ago.

Tori_Bellatrix

Was the £75 for cleaning? And did you have an inventory?

Basira

No it was for clearing some stuff away that I couldn't take which was the price he suggested and I agreed on. No inventory but that's not what he's arguing.

Tori_Bellatrix

Basira wrote: »

No it was for clearing some stuff away that I couldn't take which was the price he suggested and I agreed on. No inventory but that's not what he's arguing.

Well, in that case he has no evidence to substantiate any claims for how the property was left, he's already returned the majority of your deposit which suggests that he was happy when you moved out! He can't demand more now! He's on a hiding to nothing!

nelly_2

tell him to eff off!

If his business is that shight he has to skank a few quid out of old customers hes rubbish, and needs to pack it in and get a paper round

chappers

ditto he hasn't got a leg to stand on you have been out of there 3 months what he is claiming for could have been done by anyone plus he didn't have an inventory so even under normal circumstances he would be laughed out of court.
Don't worry about leaving your contract early as you said him returning your deposit is evidence that the contract was terminated amicably.
I would just politely tell him that you have taken advice from shelter and he no longer has any claim to the returned deposit.

If that fails the go down nelly's route and tell him to fcuk off!!!!

mystic_trev

Tell him you want your £75 back!

nelly_2

mystic_trev wrote: »

Tell him you want your £75 back!

LMFAO now thats this years best post

Someone enter it for post of the month!

I cant be rrrrrsed