UK Landlord Forum / Life

 Hi Everyone,

Can someone advice me on the matter below?
I'm living in landlord and had two lodgers(couple)staying in the spare room.
Before they moved in we agreed (verbally)that I require 3 weeks deposit and 3 weeks notice. They gave me a notice on 4th September (due to their family issues they wanted to go abroad to see their family) and on 8th of September they decided to leave the room. I wrote them an email on 7th September explaining everything. I explained that the notice period expires on 25th September. I explained that I will try to find someone within their notice period and will try to return some of their deposit if find someone before their notice expires (I really wanted to help them). Unfortunately I wasn't able to find anyone and I informed them that I cannot refund them some part of their deposit.
Now they are harassing me and planning to take me to the Court.
I strongly believe I have the right to keep some deposit as they moved out on 4th day after serving me verbal notice.
Can someone advices me on this more?
Thanks in advance

You haven't said why you aren't able to return some of their deposit, exactly... are you saying there is damage you need to rectify, or are you (as I suspect) just saying you are offsetting some of their deposit against rent owed because of their early departure?

With a scenario like this... as long as you are confident you are behaving above-board and straight-as-a-bat, just stand your ground and refuse all further communication - the threat of being taken to Court will likely evaporate to nothing - it's harder than most people believe.

What is the sum being disputed?

A few hundred? Over a thousand?

Of course, there is always the middle ground, whereby you retain a smaller amount and return, say, 50% of what you wanted to - hopefully that will end the situation - but there is no guarantee.

If they were Lodgers, they don't have the same protection regarding deposits, obviously... but that doesn't mean a Landlord should just think they're entitled to it (of course).