Agent mismanaged flat and is not returning deposit...

Captain_Mainwaring_2

tbs624 wrote: »

Must be hard for you living amongst mere mortals CM.:D

Your policy may of course fail if your hard drive dies…but then you’ve probably got several multi-passworded copies stored in a fireproof bank vault somewhere….

A lot of this depends on your age - the younger you are the more likely it is that you do things “ on the hoof” because instant messaging, emails,mobile phones & texting are the norm and are IMO less conducive to maintaining good usable records.

Some people genuinely trust other people to do the right thing once something has been raised, and some tenants are (justifiably) concerned about raising their LLs ire by putting complaints/requests for action formally during their tenancy.

IMO when someone is asking for help or suggestions, it’s definitely not helpful simply to state the b/obvious - saying “ you should have done this, you should have done that….so tough ” but preferable to
Right, coffee break over………

It is difficult you know, the things that I take for granted as being very simple are overlooked by others, thus you can see my frustration when someone states that they "forgot".try the angle “okay, given that you did/didn’t do this, here’s what you could do now to salvage something ”

Perhaps it is just me, but I think that many more people in the UK expect there to be legislation to protect them paying the price for their own stupidity - look at the number of people who take out a credit card ( a clue in the name there ) and wonder why they end up with massive interest when they don't pay.

No, it's not the OP's fault that the flat was a nightmare, but doesn't common sense suggest that if you want to take action later, that you need to have a written record of what happened? (perhaps that is too obvious?).

Perhaps the best addition to the AST would be a preamble warning both parties of the necessity to keep written records of any complaint, dispute or permission granted.

It's difficult being so damned perfect but I suppose I'll live with it.

Truth is I got myself in a terrible mess 15 years ago for failing to take my own advice.

I've got to ask - regarding try the angle “okay, given that you did/didn’t do this, here’s what you could do now to salvage something ” -


Have you got a suggestion as to what the OP could do? Hopefully they can pry the deposit back but I fear the double rent has gone west.

tbs624

Captain_Mainwaring wrote: »

Truth is I got myself in a terrible mess 15 years ago for failing to take my own advice.

... so you learnt from the experience and move forward, as no doubt the OP will do

Captain_Mainwaring wrote: »

I've got to ask - regarding try the angle “okay, given that you did/didn’t do this, here’s what you could do now to salvage something ” -


Have you got a suggestion as to what the OP could do? ......

My own suggestions were in post 8 above

mr1974

Thanks you all for the replies (even the "abrupt" ones ).

I never said I have *no* proofs - I usually start things out verbally, you know, I try to believe the landlord / agent before sending formal letters etc. I started doing that later.

I do have emails related to the fixes required, where I am particularly stressing the gas issues, telling him it's illegal etc. These came in quite late though, and after I had found another place, so they probably don't count to get the double rent back. Also I never warned them I was forced to move or anything like that.

I realise now I probably don't have a big chance of getting the double rent back, so I probably ditching that, but what about my deposit? That's adding insult to injury!
I think I have a fair case at least for getting my deposit back?


This guy has being really deceiving always pretending to have problem, not finding me to gain access (even though I told them to get in *any* time they like with their keys), every time an excuse.
I have been naive in not sending formal letters - that said that is a hassle and I can be lazy at times, so it's probably my fault.



And yes, I do have digital photographs, but how do you demonstrate they were taken on a certain date?


Thanks again for all the inputs
mr

mr1974

Captain_Mainwaring wrote: »

I can't work it out - if you had a car accident that left you with your leg hanging off, would you telephone the insurer a year after and say "Oh yes sorry, forgot to tell you about my leg..."

Why are people so complacent about doing things properly?

I see your point, but I think you are stretching the metaphor a bit too far.
I wasn't certainly thinking of things turning this nasty, people can get deceitful...

Also there's a fine line between recording everything you do at work, home etc and living a normal life. It's not always easy to keep all these records, sometimes you just want something fixed and phone your landlord, in a normal world you don't have to go to the post office etc.

That said I have probably been naive in this occasion as I could see it happening earlier. I was just so busy at work and the only thing I wanted was end the nightmare so found another place. I would have probably been happy to get my deposit back, but now since I am pursuing that matter and wasting time anyway, I thought I would pursuit the ENTIRE issue - but I don't have sufficient proofs for the double rent.

Also the tone of your email could be less harsh - just copy pasting martin's advice on this same page:
"There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps."...
:A
MR