UK Landlord Forum / Life

LONG POST COMING IN!

I just finished my first tenancy in this country, I was renting a room in a 4 bedroom house. Until now I was not aware that the landlord needs to put the deposit into a deposit scheme. He didnt tell us anything and I just found out when searching for information about my deposit on the internet, I can`t find it on any scheme.

My landlord has given us many headaches, we have been trying to be nice with him. The day we were suppose to get into the house he staid until 3 AM cleaning the house and still moving his things out (which made us really uncomfortable as we were working the next day and the house was not properly clean...)

On the contract it was stated that he needed to give notice of 24hours to come to the house and inspect the rooms, he hasnt been giving notice to us at all. Sometimes he would appear to get some letters and wander around the house and others he would ring the bell and enter the rooms without previously permission of the tenant. This last month it was worth because he came into the house without any notice or even ringing the bell, at first I though they were burglars and was really scared until I heard his voice. I understand that he needs to show the house but I would have prefered if he had lets us known or at least called to the door before to ensure we know he is coming in.

We also tried to approach him several times because of ceiling water leakings and he never came to fix it, it wasnt one week before we were leaving that he came unnanounced with a man to fix it after 9 months of telling him. We also had a garden and he told us he would send a gardener each month, which never occured as the gardener wanted to be paid more, in the end two of my flatmates fixed the garden for him.

We also had heating problems, as in summer it was on on the top two bedrooms, we told him and he didnt come, we had to send him photos of the heater through whatsapp so he could tell us how to turn it off, now he is complaining the heating bills were too much because of this and that it was our fault and that we shouldnt change the heating (i told him I changed to 5.30 to 7.30 and to 19.30 to 22.30 as it was more convenient for us, but seems someone else changed it tomore time).

He has some problems with one of the tentants, as he has broken some plates, and wants us to chase him for money and cleaning and to know wherehe is leaving the house. That is not our responsability, I am responsible for my bedroom and for keepin the common zones in good condition, which they are.
He has been saying he will charge the whole group for the things broken even if its not my fault, and he is been insisting that the carpet is dirty (even though we have been cleaning it, its just the normal tear on the entrance of the rooms). The other day he was complaining the vaccuum was not working properly even though another tenant was using it at that time with him present.

We are waiting for him to write us an email to clarify our deposits, but he has been saying he will charge us for this and for that... And for everything! I left my bedroom in perfect conditions and I am starting to get tired of having to pay for the other flatmates too. If he wants to charge me too much can I ask him about the deposit scheme to disput it? If in the end he didnt do it what can I do?

Thank you so much and SORRY FOR THE LONG POST.  It`s my first time finishing a tenancy in this country and wanted to clarify everything!

There is nothing here which I would say is unusual.

Given I believe you might be from Abroad, I would go to Citizens advice once you have been told what is happening to your deposit. Take photos, and keep all paperwork.

You have lots of rights, and you seem honest, so you will get back what is owed, it just may take a bit of time.

Good Luck