UK Landlord Forum / Life

After a "satisfactory" exit inspection our ex-landlord e-mailed 4 days later eith deductions totalling £250. Further writing that if we didnt agree he would deduct a further £250. Deductions included for broken drawers that we had reported months ago and the promised joiner never materialised, £50 for grease in the oven even though we cleaned it along with the rest of the house to more than a satisfactory manor and £40 to an increase in rent that ee never agreed to and that he didn't issue a section 13 for and for a month that we were serving our months notice.

We replied outlining why we disputed each point as unfair, unjust and some comments amounted to wear and tear.

We have heard nothing since and have tried phoning 3 times and texting to no avail. We are clearly being blanked.

what do we do now. Does the 10 day rule for return still apply during negotiations?

Incidently this is the same landlord that after re-signing a 12 month contract didnt protect our deposit gor a full 9 months and then proceeded to issue a section 21 knowing full well it wasnt valid, lucky for us ee also knew it was invalid. Not wanting to deal with a dishonest landlord we have since found somewhere better and moved out with the proper notice etc. We just want our money back and an end to any ties with him. However we now feel we might have no option but to start court proceedings both to get our deposit back and for compensation of the unprotected deposit.

Please does anyone have any advice.
thanks

Quote from: liz76 on September 07, 2014, 02:54:30 PMHowever we now feel we might have no option but to start court proceedings both to get our deposit back and for compensation of the unprotected deposit.

Do that.

There is no ADR process to facilitate a dispute as the deposit wasn't protected with any scheme.

He did protect it in May, the contract having started the previous August. So we can go TDS for dispute over the £500 but I believe the landlord has to agree to that which lets face it, if someone is trying to rip you off they are not likely to agree to it being independantly looked at.

OK, do that first - kick it off now with the scheme... you will then have done all you need to do to show willingness to resolve in the proper manner.

The dispute and compensation (although I don't like that word) for unprotected / late protected deposit can be treated separately and at different times. You can sue him for not protecting correctly for up to 6 years.

Thanks Hippogriff, I await to see what if anything he comes back with, then ask TDS to look into it.
I think there should be a list somewhere for public viewing of reputable and problematic landlords to help prevent tenants signing to less trustworthy ones.

Quote from: liz76 on September 07, 2014, 08:29:51 PMI think there should be a list somewhere for public viewing of reputable and problematic landlords to help prevent tenants signing to less trustworthy ones.

The exact same could be said of Tenants, though.