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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rent in advance

29 replies

leilathebaby · 07/03/2025 08:39

Hi guys,

I’m a bit confused about what we paid for when we moved into a property that we’re now due to leave.

Our rent is £750pcm and we paid £1000 deposit before we moved in in October (I thought it was only supposed to be 5 weeks rent which is £868 did he take more than necessary?)

We then also paid him £750 when we moved in on 16th October. This being rent in advance as we hadn’t yet lived in the house for any period of time.

I’m now due to move out and have given my 28 days notice.

Am I right in thinking that February 16th rent payment pays up until March 16th. My tenancy finishes April 2nd. So I pay my landlord for how many days it is between March 16th and April 2nd as my last rent payment?

OP posts:
OldLondonDad · 07/03/2025 09:46

leilathebaby · 07/03/2025 08:55

Hiya I checked the agreement but he’s a private landlord and it literally hardly says anything just that I paid the £1000 deposit and rent of £750 due on 16/10/2023. I also don’t think he protected my deposit in a scheme I didn’t get any certification and he’s just that type of landlord I know he wouldn’t have if he could get away with it

Show quote history

If that's the case then you've won the lottery.

You are correct that it is a max 5 weeks rent by law. He is also required by law to protect it in a registered scheme. He hasn't just messed up on 1 of these which could be argued to be an innocent mistake, he has done both things wrong which in my mind means he should rightly be penalised to the max - 3x the deposit.

Do some investigation asap - Shelter is probably a good place to start. Do NOT tell him anything to let him realise what's coming.

Catza · 07/03/2025 09:54

leilathebaby · 07/03/2025 08:58

Hi that’s really useful thank you! The monthly rent is £750pcm and I don’t think he protected the deposit no he’s a private landlord and he’s the type that if he can get away with not doing it he would. I didn’t receive any certification or emails etc to say it’s been protected

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So, if upon moving out you discover the deposit wasn't protected, you apply to county court and he will have to pay you the compensation which is up to 3x the amount of deposit. Make sure he doesn't get away with it.

Hoppinggreen · 07/03/2025 09:58

leilathebaby · 07/03/2025 08:55

Hiya I checked the agreement but he’s a private landlord and it literally hardly says anything just that I paid the £1000 deposit and rent of £750 due on 16/10/2023. I also don’t think he protected my deposit in a scheme I didn’t get any certification and he’s just that type of landlord I know he wouldn’t have if he could get away with it

Show quote history

That is illegal, he HAS to protect your deposit and he could be in a lot of trouble if he didn't do that
Also, it IS correct that a deposit can't be mor ethan 6 weeks rent so thats not right either.
The good news (hopefully) is that if he tries to keep any of your deposit even if he claims you have caused damage it will be very difficult for him to do that as it wasn't protected. The bad news is that you may have to take legal action to get it back - which could incur fines and costs for him so he may want to avoid that.
Ask Shelter for proper legal advice

Igmum · 07/03/2025 11:35

Take photos before you leave - including of gas/electricity readings.

Follow the advice I linked to earlier on deposit schemes.

If you are already on a rolling tenancy then one month's notice is fine.

Good luck!

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