Getting rental deposit back

kirstypea

Hi everyone,

was hoping you guys might be able to help,

I moved out of a rented flat on the 14th, and the following day had a call from the letting agent to say that there were a few things I still needed to clean: I'd forgotten to wipe fingerprints from a couple of the chrome light switches, and the shower door had gotten streaky when it dried off as I cleaned it in a rush and left it wet when I handed in the keys. They said that either I could go back and do them myself or they'd take the cost from my deposit. I went and did it myself and handed the keys back on the 16th.

I haven't heard a single thing from them since regarding the deposit, so I gave them a call today to check it hadn't been lost in the post and the letting agent told me that it was on their to-do list they just hadn't gotten around to it as they were very busy, and then without letting me say anything she just said "ok, bye" and hung up the phone!

The deposit is protected under the TDS scheme according to the tenancy agreement so am I right in saying that I should of had it back within 10 days? or does that change because they rang me with things that needed to be done? No deposit figure was discussed and I haven't had anything from them in writing. The tenancy agreement just says "the deposit will be returned to you as tenant within a reasonable period, following the end of the tenancy".

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have

Eskimo12345

We've been waiting three months to get our deposit back of our agent, hope you do better than us!

kirstypea

wow... maybe I was a bit naive in thinking they'd get it to us asap!

Am I totally wrong about this ten day thing? is it ten days from end of tenancy or ten days from whenever they choose to sort it out... they were certainly quick enough about getting in touch for me to do the cleaning when there was a new tenant due in! Although, I can hardly see a new tenant having a hissy fit about fingerprints on the light switches :rotfl:

teeni

No you are not wrong, the law states that the deposit should be returned within 10 days of agreement. The relevant date is the date they agreed that everything was ok and they were not going to dispute anything. The 10 days start from there

kirstypea

I havent heard anything since I went back and cleaned the second time... do I treat their phonecall as the agreement ie. they agreed everything was ok with the proviso that I went and cleaned certain things, or should I be waiting for an agreement that everything is ok after the cleaning, which I've not had?

Paddy_Charlie

Is it 10 working days or just 10 days that the deposit has to be returned under an TDS?

teeni

kirstypea wrote: »

I havent heard anything since I went back and cleaned the second time... do I treat their phonecall as the agreement ie. they agreed everything was ok with the proviso that I went and cleaned certain things, or should I be waiting for an agreement that everything is ok after the cleaning, which I've not had?

I would consider contacting them to ask if everything is to their satisfaction. IF they agree it is remind them that the deposit should be returned with in 10 days and ask for a definate date that you will receive it. keep it friendly but ensure they are aware that if you do not have it within 10 days that you may contact the deposit scheme and ask them to intervene.

Tassotti

You should have been informed which scheme is holding your deposit within 14 days of your deposit being lodged.

Contact the agent, and ask them where your deposit is being held.

This will probably 'get their butt in gear' to sort out the return of your deposit.

If not, contact the scheme operators that are holding your deposit. They will be able to help you out.

Tass

tbs624

Send them a letter- drop it in personally or send Rec Delivery (keep a copy for yourself.) Something along the lines of:

Re tenancy of ……….
I moved out of this property on…....., returned at your request to.......…on …… .......and I now request the return of my deposit of £xxxx., as … days have passed since I called in to your office.

Would you please let me have a cheque for the full amount, which can be sent to my new address as above.

I look forward to hearing from you within 7 days.

If you don’t get a response back from them, or they send you a partial deposit with a a list of deductions that you want to challenge, you send them a second letter and let the deposit scheme know that you are in dispute.

Good luck with it.

wendy_ann1983

Your not with Lenwells in Luton by any chance?
i moved out on 21st march and still waiting to hear from them what they want to deduct from deposit as it says on tds form i need to write it down before i can claim, i keep emailing and asking and am gettin no response, anyone know if i can still claim with tds some how, have been messed around since we moved into the flat and have spent days in tears cos i was so stressed with them.

kirstypea

Finally got it back yesterday, and happily they gave us the full amount

Thanks everyone for the advice, I took the firm but friendly phone call approach, I think they just got fed up and wanted me to stop pestering in the end lol!

Wendy - no not Luton, I fear this may be a common trait in letting agents! Also, I have found on many occasions that letting agents NEVER answer emails! Chase them up to confirm that they received it

Now, I just need to hope that they get their act together and inform all our old utilities.. I've already had 2 reminders from our old gas supplier! :rolleyes: