Blinking flat deposit hell

[earplugged]

Honestly I've been having an absolute nightmare getting out of the flat from hell, let by the agents from hell with the neighbours from hell and landlady from hell. She's now refusing to return my deposit until I send written confirmation that all bills have been settled in respect of this property. All bills have been settled (I moved out on 21st August) and SSE sent me an email today stating closure of gas and electricity accounts at previous address which I pdf'd and sent to her and she is not accepting as proof. End of my bloody tether here, this whole process has made me physically ill, can she demand final statements? Never experienced this before..

Agree with PP that the bills (whether paid or outstanding) play no part in getting your deposit back. Time for the LL to stop stalling - if it is in a scheme, it will have a process you can use if your LL is not keen to give it back.

I've been a LL, I used an agent and it was always in a scheme. If we wanted to make any deductions from a deposit we had to justify it - the LL that is, not the tenant.

ignore the silly cow - she hasn't protected your deposit, you've got all the power here, she's in big trouble

ah just seen the update - still though the law is on your side against unreasonable demands. talk to shelter

Just tell the landlord you are happy to dispute it through whichever protection system they used.

In the case of my last landlady she said it was not protected, we suggested she read up on her situation regarding the deposit, and also about mandatory registration of let properties (we were in Northern Ireland), her mortgage still being registered to the property as residential rather than let out, tax due on the rental income, and then consider wether she still wanted to fight over it.

We got 125% of the deposit into our account within hours.

The deposit doesn't just have to be protected, it has to be protected within 30 days maximum AND prescribed information served.

I believe all of this must be done for the landlord to avoid a penalty.

If they protect it late or serve you the PI late it's down to the judge's discretion on whether it's 1, 2 or 3 x the amount of the deposit that they are fined.

Pretty sure that's correct but feel free to state otherwise.

My deposit was originally with MyDeposit but for some reason was moved to DPS www.depositprotection.com/
If your 'LL hasn't put the deposit into a scheme you can claim up to 3 times the amount back.

FYI...we've had to take our deposit to a dispute and we won with the DPS. They were a great help. Good luck.

I guarantee they once you give them the details of the closed accounts they will start hitting you with "damage" to the flat open your dispute tomorrow and keep to the dispute schedule and don't stop until the money is back in your account as the letting agents in my case used all sorts of delay tactics like the letting agent always being on holiday when I emailed and back the day after a deadline and the out of off taking a suspiciously long time to arrive.
To asking for bank details so they could pay the deposit into my account. Sending me invoices (with our details no one else's) stating a basic transfer had been made to me but would take 5 working days all of which never appeared and and tinkly laugh "oh did you think that invoice was for you no that was to the deposit company.. oh dear did you miss the deadline because you thought we were paying it back? I am really sorry but that means the process is over and you will lose you deposit" I could here her almost choke when I said no I didn't stop and I have put in the dispute.
Also you only have 3 months to do it so another delaying tactic is to not send (or do) the inventory in a timely manner.
Make sure you have everything in writing. Don't talk to them on the phone and start the dispute it is a fast and easy process and will actually save you time if they are being dicks now, this could drag on unless you nip it in the bud.

My god egdehsdrawkcab what the actual hell is going on with our landlord? that is all totally unacceptable!! I had similar thing with tradespeople when the heating went out for three weeks in January and I had a broken foot I had to be home to allow seven plumbers in. I felt really vulnerable as I was a single woman, immobile and really, really cold. They are actual fuckers aren't they.

I'm on the phone holding for DPS now waiting to find out what's going on, what my obligations are, then calling my council when they open at 9 and paying the £19 she is telling me is due then sending her an email stating that she has no right to my utility information. Another day and night of stress from an absolute dick of a human.

Thanks all , so much for your input and advice.