My daughter can't get her bond back from landlord

[Anordinarymum]

I would appreciate any advice as to what she should do on this matter.

She rented a house and paid £550 bond to the letting agent.
After about a year the landlord sold the company on to someone else who then sold the property and now my daughter can't get the bond back from the letting agent as they changed hands also and she has been informed that the original Landlord went bankrupt.
Is there any chance she can get her money back?

What a mess

Yes!! Is it protected? Does she have her protection certificate?

Was a Deposit Scheme used?

We're in a similar position with my DS's deposit from a student house he left in March. We're taking it to the Deposit Scheme as the landlord is being recalcitrant.

I'm a landlord and use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme I can confirm they are very quick and professional and will at least give you advice if you call them

Yes a deposit scheme was used. She has emailed them and is waiting for a response.

I think this sort of problem with renting from landlords like this one is common. Thank goodness for Mumsnet

Thanks for the replies. Don't feel quite so bad now

In her original tenancy agreement it should state where and how the deposit was going to be held. The main ones are:

Deposit Protection Service www.depositprotection.com/im-a-tenant/
MyDeposits www.mydeposits.co.uk/
Tenancy Deposit Scheme www.tenancydepositscheme.com/

Most of them have a service where you can search by name/address to see if your deposit was held with them.

If the landlord never registered it then you may have a problem though.

Oh good I'm pleased she's registered they will sort it, it may take a while but she will get it back.

Things like this absolutely infuriate me. Crooks like this give LLs a bad name. It shouldn't matter that he's made bankrupt it's not his money! Grrrr

I don't understand how the letting agent gave it to him ? I thought they held it until the tenant left in case of damages etc??

If they did transfer the bond they should have told her and updated her certificates.

This sounds dodgier than dodge!

Hope she gets it sorted OP

@Anordinarymum

I don't understand how the letting agent gave it to him ? I thought they held it until the tenant left in case of damages etc??

Neither the letting agent nor the landlord should be holding anyone’s deposit.

A deposit have to go into a deposit protection service (the three main ones are listed above); it is illegal for them not to be protected in this manner.

It IS possible for a LL to retain the deposit, but then they have to provide details of the insurance scheme which covers it in the event of them being unable to pay it back. So it is still 'protected' as such.

TDS has two schemes - Insured and Custodial