Rent deposit return

[namechangedforthis19]

Advice needed!

DD was renting a student house and moved out on 30th June which was also the end of the tenancy.

The students deposit is protected by MyDeposits.

The landlord wants to make some deductions. Some are fair (extra cleaning that wasn't done) and the tenants agree but the landlord is dragging their heels on getting a quote to tidy the garden up. The garden was far from being beautiful and tidy when they moved in but unfortunately they don't have photos to prove this. Think a badly paved backyard with no planting at all. While they were there, the neighbours wall collapsed into their garden making a bit of a mess. The neighbours piled up the mess as best they could and the landlord was informed. When they left there were a few weeds growing up through the paving which DD and her fellow housemates attempted to kill with some weedkiller, but other than that the garden was pretty much as they found it.

Seven weeks later and their deposit hasn't been returned as apparently the landlord is waiting for a quote to tidy up the garden. DD can't really do much as she isn't the lead tenant and all communication has to go through them. I'm thinking that seven weeks is taking the piss a bit but may be this is the usual timeframe for these things? DD needs her deposit, or what remains of it back, as she is moving away to start a new job at the beginning of September. I'm nagging her to chase it up but she tells me she can't as they need to wait on the landlord. What is a reasonable timescale for these things?

[Sargass0]

What does mydeposits say. That's the first port of call.

[Joh66]

If neither partner have photos of the garden, there is no evidence of the condition at the commencement of the tenancy or at its termination. Your daughter should disput any deduction and ask mydeposit for the return of her money.