Sister stole her flatmate’s deposit

Then block the harasser and move on. Not your problem to solve.

My parents are Eastern European (language barrier) they have delegated to me.

Does your sister speak the same language as your parents? If so, then there isn’t a language barrier between them and their daughter. Your parents aren’t delegating anything, they like your sister’s ex flatmate feel ok to bully you. Block the ex flatmate and tell your parents no. Your sister is an idiot and will have to deal with the consequences of her idiocy.

I’d just tell this girl you’ve spoken to your sister and encouraged her to repay the money and her parents are aware, then block her

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/how_to_make_a_tenancy_deposit_compensation_claim

Have a look at this link, OP.

Worth a try.

If your sister has it in writing from the landlord that the deposit was not protected, all she needs to do is send the landlord and the letting agent a letter before action saying that since the deposit was not protected the landlord owes three times the total deposits paid (not just the original deposits returned) and so the landlord has only paid her a third of what he owes.

If she doesn't have it in writing that the deposit was not protected then the first thing she needs to do is send a formal letter to the landlord and the agent asking for a copy of the deposit protection certificate and saying that if he cannot provide it within 30 days she will make a claim.

If she makes a successful claim she could potentially be in a position to give the flatmate her deposit back and get a little extra money on top.

Can be up to x3 the original deposit I believe

www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/if-your-landlord-doesnt-protect-your-deposit

If the deposit wasn't held in a protection scheme then my understanding from this forum is that landlord may have to pay 3 times the deposit in a fine.

Worth the flatmate and your sister investigating. Others in the property/DIY board will be more knowledgeable than me/you can search those boards for info.

OP asks for advice.

Gets unanimous advice.

Ignores it and comes across as an arse to contributors.

Everyone: leaves.

On a separate note if the LL didn’t secure the deposit correctly. They can report them and will be entitled to a compensation.

It's nothing to do with you. It's quite simple - block the flatmate on social media, tell your parents it's not your problem, and leave your sister to it. If she gets into trouble then she might learn a lesson.

I'm not saying you've changed the numbers. Fwiw I think you're telling the truth about all this. I'm saying the numbers and what exactly they represent are unclear.

All I can judge from is what you've written on this thread. From that I get the impression that you are stressed, you are overly involved in your sister's life, your family has an unhealthy dynamic where you are expected to be both daughter and parent, and you are very reluctant to not get involved.

Sure, I could be completely wrong, but I don't seem to be the only one getting that vibe so perhaps food for thought?

Tell your parents no

You really really don't

I understood completely what you were saying. Other posters lack comprehension skills.

I see why sister thinks she’s morally entitled to the money. She’s the one who fought for it, but half is isn’t hers. Legally it’s theft. You’ve pointed that out. There is nothing more that you can do. Tell the flatmate, you’ve tried but now it’s between them and she needs to stop contacting you. Warn your sister there might be legal consequences. Then wash your hands on the whole thing.

Your sister had no right to do this, this is without a doubt theft.

If the international student reports this to the police, your sister will most likely be charged resulting in a criminal record, as there will be evidence she lied to the LL in order to obtain both deposits by deception, thus depriving her former flatmate of what may well be her parent’s money.

Do you or your parents ever financially assist your sister? Do you offer any other forms of practical support?
If so, you could each chip in to return the money to the international student, or repay her in instalments.
This way, you as a family can have leverage to pressure her to return the money to you and your parents.

Another point, we are not certain your sister has indeed given the stolen money to another friend, if she was dishonest enough to lie to LL n order to steal the money, I doubt she’d hesitate to lie about where the stolen deposit went.
Is this one of the statements you saw verifying this?

It seems your parents realise something is wrong and they want to set your sister straight.

The worst lesson you all can teach your sister at this age is that she can get away with theft, you do not want to encourage future acts of theft.

If your sister had issues with the flatmate, they should have been dealt with separately at the time, rather than resorting to theft after flatmate has left the country.

Not your monkeys, not your circus.

What are your sister's expectations about this? Does she even want you involved?

Seems to me like you and your parents are sticking your oars in unnecessarily. I suggest you block the flatmate on social media or you risk complicating it further.

Beyond that, if your sister is happy to carry round the guilt of keeping the cash, that's up to her.The flatmate might go to the police, they might not. If your sister can live with that, there's nothing to be done, however much you and your family disapprove.

People seem to be missing this point - the reason that the sister was able to get her hands on the flatmate's money in the first place was that she lied to the LL and said flatmate had closed her bank account so to transfer the whole £2400 to her, presumably leading him to believe she would pass it on. That's fraud, obtaining money by deception so a whole other offence on top of the theft.

@Huhy Did the CAB not advise your sister that if the deposit wasn't protected she could sue the landlord for three times the amount?

Tell your parents that your sisters behaviour is none of your business.

You do appear to have an unusual family dynamic and it doesn’t sound healthy for you. Take a huge step back.

Obviously block anyone sending you shitty messages.

It absolutely is theft - your sister has benefitted over and above getting the whole deposit back.

There will be an audit trail of emails to the landlord and the payments being made to and from the landlord.

The flatmate can and should report this to the police.

This is true actually.

If the deposit wasn't protected, the landlord owes them three times the deposit value.
So your sister has received 2/3rds of her share and it is up to the flatmate to chase what she is owed.