UK Landlord Forum / Life

I rented a house for a year, the landlord decided to move back in to the property, I agreed to move out and he said I would receive my deposit back. It is in the deposit scheme and held by the letting agent. The landlord carried out the property inspection himself without myself or the agnt there, he said the garden wall and decking need painting. These are jobs that he promised to do at the time we moved in and ihave emails to prove it. He is trying to take £500 from my deposit to cover this and mowing the lawn as it had not been done over winter. £100 of this covers a deep clean but the place was left spotless. The other problem is that I have found a new place to live and he said he is witholding from giving them a reference they requested unless I reply to his demands! I don't know what to do as I don't want a bad reference but I do nit want to be blackmailed into paying for maintenance of his house as there was no damage

You have no choice but to be honest. Try and get a different refereee.

Keep fighting to get your deposit back.

What was the check in and check out inventory like? 

With regards to references from current/just ex LL's the previous landlord to that is a much better reference as they aren't potentially trying to off load a problem tenant.

Quote from: clk356 on April 24, 2014, 09:58:21 PM...he said the garden wall and decking need painting

You will clarify, no doubt, but these sound like wear-and-tear items that the Landlord cannot deduct from the deposit for. Now, if there was damage caused, that's a different matter. But the onus is on the Landlord, not you, to prove for things that he wants to make deductions for. If the Landlord has a good Inventory and Schedule of Condition document, signed by you both at the beginning of the tenancy, then he will be in a strong position - if not, then not.

As for the reference... you will need to be open and say that the Landlord is withholding a reference while you come to an agreement on deposit deductions, but you will need to be able to do this so the potential new Landlord does not get cold feet about you as a Tenant.

What is also said about the previous Landlord providing a reference is true... that Landlord's reference can be much more useful to a potential Landlord. However, it is not the case here that you are in possession of a glowing - but fake - reference from this Landlord.