Random email from Tenancy Deposit Scheme saying that agent has unprotected my deposit?!

[AnaisNun]

Just had an alarming email from TDS to say that my landlord or letting agent has unprotected my deposit.

For background, I’m 3 months into a 6 month (what I assume will become a rolling) tenancy.

I’ve had no dispute with the landlord or the letting agent. The rent is up to date. There are no issues with my tenancy.

I’ve forwarded the email to the letting agent but they’re closed until tomorrow. I’m having kittens thinking that they’re about to tell me the landlord is selling or something dreadful. I can’t move! I have a 4 year old and we just moved in!

I know I’m panicking but I can’t help it.

Any ideas? Could it be an admin error?

Maybe a scam?

www.mydeposits.co.uk/blogcat/dont-fall-for-online-fraud/

Hmmm I hoped so but no- they don’t want any info, no links to follow- they actually say “speak to your letting agent before you try and contact us”.

So I think it’s genuine. Just hugely disconcerting

if they have done it then they are fools because that breaks a lot of legislation.

if you are in England then notice is 6 months from the end of your fixed term. If that is the plan.

speak to the agent tomorrow and find out what is happening.

Is it posit that it’s been withdrawn to transfer to a different deposit scheme? Ours have moved a couple of times. Can’t remember what communication we had about it though.

@murbblurb

You sound like you know what you’re talking about... I have the landlords number and have met him once. He’s lovely-local business owner, pillar or the community type with kids etc. I can’t imagine he’d have anything to do with this.

Once I’ve got to the bottom of it, would it be something you think I should mention to him, as in “your letting agent has done this, I’m not at all laying it at your door but thought you would want to know.”

I know he’s been less than impressed with them from his end too, from the little he told me when we met, so I wonder if he would like to know (or it would just cause a headache he didn’t need?)

@Fireweeds

Maybe ... but wouldn’t they have to tell me?

Also the email is headed “end of tenancy”- which was what sent me into a blind panic

I would write to the landlord and perhaps copy and paste the email, rather than forwarding it.

Have you check the exact address of the sender, rather than what appears at first glance?

If it's an unimpressive agent I wonder whether they have given notice on the wrong deposit? I can't imagine that - even if they wanted to give you notice - they would tell the scheme before you so my best guess would be that it's a stupid cock up. Hope it's sorted soon for you OP.

Yeah the email “name” is The Disputes Service
Email address is [email protected]

When I click the header bar it takes me through to the website of the right address that has all of the same pop up covid info, MHCLG logo etc - totally legit.

I’ve forwarded it to the letting agent in my panic, and didn’t even think about it being a scam, but having cross checked the info it doesn’t look like it.

I wouldnt send the whole shenanigans to the landlord though, of course.

.com , not .co

I’m having kittens thinking that they’re about to tell me the landlord is selling or something dreadful.

Try not to panic. Even if they were selling, they need to give you 6 months notice. Why would they do this now?

I’m sure this will be easily cleared up; wait to hear back from your letting agent.

I know. I’m being daft. I’m just having a tough time at work, some health issues and just setting up a debt management plan (totally separate to tenancy - no issues paying rent- two resolve credit card debt from separation), so my anxiety is stupidly high.

I’m usually very chill.
I have no chill atm.

Sorry. I’ll call down now.

No need to apologise for feeling anxious- it's completely understandable

It might be that the landlord is changing agent and the new agent uses a different deposit scheme. In order to get the deposit out of the TDS, they have "ended" the tenancy without a dispute. It's possibility, I think.

The only way they can take it out without your agreement is if it's protected in the insurance type scheme.

The most likely explanation is that they are removing from the scheme to use the custodial scheme instead which is indeed much more protective if their interests and yours.
.

Mystery solved.

Estate agent has been taken over by a new company, and it sounds like it’s all been a bit mismanaged around the automated TDS system.

Poor woman on the phone sounded very flustered. They weren’t expecting it either.

Now onto the new mysteries- why my boiler has broken down, and what plant my kid has confessed to eating out of the garden at nursery 😫

Never rains eh....

Thanks for all your advice/ideas!

Phew!! Thanks for the update. Do keep an eye to make sure the deposit is reprotected.

Now to get the landlord on the case of fixing your boiler! I hope nothing too nasty has been eaten..

I once had my rent payment returned and had a similar panic. It was the same thing, agency taken over and no communication to the workers let alone tenants.

Glad it's nothing disastrous.