CF landlord withholding deposit

[KarenNotAKaren]

So I moved out a rental property at the beginning of the month (2nd). The landlord only just went on Thursday, without me, to inspect the property. He’s been ill, apparently (for context he was a lunatic and when I cancelled an inspection because my own DD was ill he screamed down the phone at me calling me a liar).

I was meant to drop the keys off with a neighbour on the 2nd but when I knocked they weren’t in. So I went back on the 3rd to make sure they definitely got the keys. He has tried to charge me £40 for retaining the keys.

On Thursday he sent me a text saying “Everything looks fine. Just waiting on this £40 from you now.” I argued the toss and said he absolutely cannot expect me to pay £40 for keeping a set of keys overnight.

No reply. Yesterday I texted to ask him when I will get the deposit sent back.

Got a reply to say that he is waiting on quotes for a deep clean and oven clean and that I left a poo in the toilet, and how dare I be so pressing and impatient with him he has other things to do.

AIBU to think he’s off his rocker? On Thursday everything is fine and then suddenly, when I haven’t been present for an inspection, it needs a deep clean and oven clean just because I won’t send him £40?

Hes now ignoring me. The deposit is £1200. I really could do with it back. It’s protected in a scheme but really I CBA going through all that grief

It's not really grief it's a simple process apparently and you will get your money back don't let him keep it

It's pretty simple going to the deposit protection agency.
Just crack on with that and be glad you never need contact him again directly.

And check your contract unless it says your liable for a deep clean he can't charge you anyway

You did at least take pictures of the property before you left didn't you?

Just apply to the scheme for the money back. He will need to justify any dispute.

Your only remedy is the DPS dispute process. Did you take photos on departure? Was a proper inventory done when your tenancy started?

Unless things have changed, it is you who requests your deposit back and the scheme will release it to you. It would be for him to provide evidence for anything he thinks he should claim for. Even if you had left a poo in the loo the deposit scheme would return your money as all it would need is a flush not any remedial work.

Is your deposit on a deposit scheme account? If so you can start return process and he landlord has x time to respond.

I assume your deposit is protected? Can't you request it back via the scheme?

It’d be good if people bothered to read the original post before replying.

There is no grief, @KarenNotAKaren The protection scheme will sort it.

Request the deposit back! Did you leave a poo in the loo?

To clarify I did not leave a poo on the loo, apparently he has a picture 🤣 I strongly suspect him or his family have had a poo and fancy blaming it on me

Of course!

And do you have condition photos from the landlord from when you moved in?

Yes he is a power hungry sneaky bastard.

go straight to DPS. My guess is be thinks he can intimidate and embarrass you hence talking about poop in a toilet (where poo generally goes!!!)

Apply through the deposit protection scheme now, and fear not, the landlord has to jump through hoops to prove he is entitled to retain some of the deposit. The scheme will definitely not allow money to be deducted for silly claims like a poo in the loo or key kept overnight. Cleaning bills they may allow, if he can supply them with photos from when you moved in showing eg the oven was previously sparkling.

Hopefully you took photos prior to handing back the keys to prove his lying?

If so, explain this to the deposit scheme.

Has your deposit been lodged with one of the protection schemes? If not your landlord has actually broken the law and the fine for that is in all likelyhood significantly more than the deposit.
It may be a good idea to point that out to them. Especially as there are texts indicating that there has indeed a deposit been taken.
If the deposit has been appropriately lodged your landlord should have given you the details directly and you can apply to them directly. If he did not give you the details, he has acted illegally so just point that out to him.
From memory the penalty for landlords for not complying with deposit scheme rules is noticeable enough. It is to weed out slum landlords.

Literally the last line of the op ....

It’s protected in a scheme but really I CBA going through all that grief

However if you didn't give keys back until a day later you do remain liable for an extra day's rent. So if the rent x 12 divided by 365 is equal to £40 you do owe that.

Pay the £40 and dispute the rest.

Just go to deposit scheme. It will be a whole lot less hassle than trying to get the money back from the landlord.

Your trump card is that he told you everything was fine after the inspection and he just wanted £40 for the keys. I suppose you could point that out to him and send him your photos of the items he is now trying to claim for to show that you have evidence that they were clean (or as clean as they were in the check in inventory) and that he agreed that after the inspection.

Unfortunately, he can charge you for not returning the keys on time. He can charge you rent until the time that the keys were returned (so 1 day) and the cost of replacing the keys/lock IF he had to replace them to gain access and has receipts.

Suggest to him he sends the poo away for dna analysis to prove it's yours...

Tell him you have dated photos and go through the scheme. Can’t be arsed? For £1200?! 🤣

Yes - they’re basically identical pictures

Can't be arsed? Unless he is challenged he will do it again to the next person.
Was the deposit protected?