Should the estate agent have done this?

[Itsnotthatgrimupnorth]

I paid my first months rent and deposit (totalling £1100) to the estate agents dealing with my move into rented property. After 6 weeks when I queried lack of written confirmation from the nationwide Deposit Protection Service over my deposit money the agent told me they had paid full amount to my landlord. And now it is up to me to chase landlord and get him to place my deposit money with DPS.

Is this correct? I've rented properties before and on previous occasions it has been the role of the estate agent to place money with DPS before releasing remainder to landlord. My landlord has confirmed he has received the monies but was not informed of the need to deposit the money by the agent.

Any help gratefully received :)

The estate agent is at fault. I they members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents? (ARLA) It will say if they are, somewhere on their company stationery.

No they should not have done it. Not sure where you go from here. Think I would go into the Estate Agent and speak to them.

\link{http://www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection-schemes.htm\This looks helpful}

Thanks everyone. Just as I suspected but wasnt 100% sure.

The link you supplied is very helpful Fimbo and gives me my answer!

:)