Agents not returning rental deposit

[eightoclock]

We moved out of our previous rented flat 6 weeks ago and the estate agents have not returned the deposit or been in touch about it. They did not respond to emails so we contacted the deposit protection company 3 weeks ago and the agents have not responded to them either.
We had a good relationship with the agents, allowed lots of viewings, did not damage anything and left the place much cleaner than when we moved in. It's now pretty annoying that they are behaving like this.
Apparently the next step is for us to get a letter witnessed by a solicitor to request the money back. I don't see why this letter needs to be witnessed or why we should pay a solicitor for something that is surely up to the deposit protection company to sort out? Does anyone know anything further about the process or the time scale involved? Thanks

There is no point emailing them. Go to their office, be a squeaky wheel by phoning them
every day until it's sorted.

Well, they have to return your deposit within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you get back, which isn’t really terribly helpful if they are not agreeing with you.
www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection
Is it the deposit protection scheme that has told you that you need the solicitors letter?

Yes it says to get a signed letter on the online instructions.

There may be a limit on the time you have to raise a dispute. Contact the TDP scheme as soon as possible.Your agent should have given your deposit back within 10days after they have had the report from the inventory clerk. Go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau. You have a good case and keep any documentation the agent has given you.

I had to do the witnessed solicitors form thing about 8 years ago. An old landlord was being very diffcult and just refused to refund the money/didn’t engage. The deposit was with the DPS and the needed the witnessesed form to return then money to us as he just ignored them.

It’s a reasonable system, you’ll get all your money back this way. Although it’s a faff to get to a solicitors, it was easy to do and the sort of thing they get asked to do a lot. I think I paid about £20 and it was done without an appointment, I was just asked to turn up and anyone who was as free could come down and witness the form for me.

Gosh sorry for all the typos. I need to stop posting in a rush!

Thanks that's helpful Eleanor