Landlord intending keeping my deposit - all of it, by sounds of it.

[GetStuffezd]

Why does moving out always turn into such a farce? Apologies for length.

I moved out my 2 bedroom house on 3rd August and heard nothing from the Estate agents, who couldn't be there for the final inspection. I will admit, the cleaning was not perfect, oven, for example - I did the best I could on my own in a day. So I am happy for some deductions to be made. However, as they've sold the house, rather than letting it immediately out, I did not think they would go OTT - especially as the new owner and surveyor ripped a whole strip of wallpaper off, indicating they will be changing the (very outdated) décor.

I rang the EA today who informed me the owner was unhappy with the cleanliness and state of the property. She was arranging for people to clean the house professionally and if there was anything left from my deposit they would send it on to me. Now my deposit was £525 - there is NO WAY it will require this amount to clean the property. Please can someone advise me what to do? My deposit is being held in the scheme and I will dispute any costs I think are excessive.

*The house was not professionally cleaned when I moved in.
*The inventory lists everything individually, with most things being in "average" condition; some in "poor" condition.

• Surely she can't pay for work to be done with my deposit money before I've had a chance to decide whether I'm disputing?
  
  I would be grateful for advice, I've borrowed money from my mum to move and I need to pay her back! TIA

[GetStuffezd]

SUCCESS!!!!!!
LL has agreed to just accept money for cleaning - the rest is to be returned to me! It means it's resulted in a 50/50 split, but to be honest I am content with that.
Very relieved.

Thank you all SO much for being so supportive!

[RenterNomad]

Glad you got a result you are happy with.

[bibliomania]

Glad you're happy with the result. Well done for pushing for a fairer outcome.

[GetStuffezd]

Me again!
Predictably, the bastard EA have to yet sent me cheque, despite telling me it had been mailed on Monday. They also have not responded to my last email. As I repayed my mum the £250 as soon as I got paid, I am now utterly penniless until they send it. I am livid.
Does anyone know where I can turn to if it doesn't arrive? I need that money - £250 is all I have for the rest of the monh!! (Things tight at the moment.)

[ModeratelyObvious]

Threaten to open the dispute. Ask them to pay by direct transfer into your bank,

[GetStuffezd]

Thank you. The post hasn't come today yet. If it is to here then, I will ask them to pay by bank transfer. Which they will probably decline to d. I feel like I'm being punished for refusing to give up the full amount. I have invited a few work friends around for my birthday next Sat and at this rate we will be snacking on sawdust and tap water!

[DoingItOurSelves]

Congratulations GetStuffezd! Really glad for you.

I lost an £800 deposit just before the scheme came in on a really poor condition short let (4 months) with threadbare carpets, tired and damaged decor throughout, no form of regulation on heating hot water, (so huge bills) and a leaking bath, and condemned gas fire; for the crime of still removing 3 items of food from the freezer the day of the handover (to carpet fitters putting in patches) that I realised I?d forgotten when moving the night before, (therefore not fully vacated) and for having not cleaned the baked on when we moved in grime, off the cooker, that we suspected was leaking carbon monoxide so hadn't used, and had used a microwave, steamer and slow cooker the whole time.

The lettings agency acknowledged it may well have been there when we moved in, but said I'd had four months to have cleaned it to a useable standard and the frozen food in the freezer overnight was a breach of tenancy therefore I forfeited the lot, which I?d been made to pay in cash.

I couldn't afford to argue as we had enough problems renting as a LP with need for disabled access on HB and they threatened to blacklist us.

Sorry for decent landlords and agencies, but I'm really glad there's some protection now.

[GetStuffezd]

£800?
That's a massive amount to lose!
Unfortunately my cheque still has not materialised and the post has now come today. I am seriously annoyed and need to calm down before writing a shitty email. This is just NOT fair.

[DoingItOurSelves]

Odd your agents couldn't be there to inspect either, you'd think that was what they were paid to do, they don't have an animal in their name do they?

[GetStuffezd]

No, they don't - but I bet there are a fair few crap ones! They weren't there for the initial look around when I moved in, either.

[mamafridi]

How are you get stuffed? What a complete nightmare to go through. I hope you got your half of the deposit back.
I am also in the midst of trying to get my deposit back. I swear there is some sort of scam going on with these letting agencies. It's a disgrace. I might report this to Dispatches because there is definitely something very suspicious going on. I wonder if there are any other tenants that have had problems getting their entire deposit back because even if these letting agents deduct 100 quid here and there because of cleaning issues they must be making a tidy sum.

[GetStuffezd]

I agree, mamafridi! There's definitely something going on with some of them.
Unfortunately they still have not returned it and haven't responded to my last 2 emails. Tomorrow I will have to bite the bullet and ring them. I am up absolute shit street and have had to borrow money off my mum again, which feels shit.
Very, very angry.
What are they doing with your deposit then? Trying to keep it all?

[GetStuffezd]

Well. Today I snapped and rang their head office and spoke to a really nice woman who turned out to own the entire company. Haaaa! She was not impressed and ten minutes later I got a phone call from the branch manager basically kissing my arse. Apparently
a) He's been on holiday for the last 2 weeks and JUST THIS MINUTE picked up the emails I've been sending.
b) The woman I've been dealing with most has also been on holiday, hence no replies.
c) They've got a new branch opening this week so it's all really busy.
d) My cheque will be issued first thing tomorrow morning.

We. Shall. See.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Good luck. :)

[Crumbledwalnuts]

I really wouldn't worry. Get the deposit scheme people to sort it out.

What happens is the landlord has to return to you any non-disputed amount. So if a full clean is quoted as 250 then you get the rest back then fight it out over the 250. They aren't allowed to hold the lot just to get hold of part of it.

[Crumbledwalnuts]

OK well someone didn't read the thread. All the best.

[GetStuffezd]

Well here's an update for anyone who's still around...

Naturally my cheque did not arrive. I then received a text from the EA apologising profusely for the delay and assuring my cheque had been sent that day to X address. Which was not my address at all. Naturally I asked for clarification and yes, they've sent me cheque to a fictional place.

So, once again I spoke to the EA branch manager who took my bank details and promised me my money would be in that day. He then patronised me nicely by saying "there you go, a new pair of shoes for the weekend!" Which I fucking wish I'd challenged but I had had to dash out of a lesson to take the call so was harassed.

And my fucking money still isn't in!!!!!!! I have NO petrol! Luckily my mum threw a birthday party for me yesterday so I have a house full of food and booze but this is RIDICULOUS!

What should. Do if it isn't in tomorrow? I don't believe they're crooks - just deeply incompetent!

[Jewelledkaleidoscope]

I would open a dispute and take them for the full amount.

Stress how crappy it was when you moved in.

Fuck 'em.

[RenterNomad]

Yes, you haven-t accepted some kind of irrevocable settlement, becase they have still paid you FUCK ALL.

[sayithowitis]

Open the dispute. I believe there is a time limit and the cynical side of me is sayt that the EA is doing whatever they can to ensure you miss the date. I would include evidence of this as part of the dispute.

[JustinBsMum]

I do believe they are crooks - this is just a way of getting more money out of people.

No one is that incompetent.

If you hold out you will win. You just have to stick it out (without giving yourself a heart attack due to fury).

It took 6 months of persistent letters to get my student DDs deposit back. If they think you will cave they will keep resisting. I finally said I was going to solicitor, hey presto, money arrives.

[GetStuffezd]

Well I rang up and SHOUTED yesterday and today the money was in my account. Hilariously, the cheque also arrived - it HAD been sent to the correct address. An evil part of me wants to cash it, (compensation for the trauma...) but I won't do!
Bloody idiots!
Been out for a nice Indian with my neighbour to celebrate :-)

[ModeratelyObvious]

Yay!

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

At last! Well done on persisting, your example should give hope to many others. :)

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

Well done, they were truly incompetent!