Getting deposit back from letting agents

[Tenantissues2016]

What's the best way to go about this?

We moved out of a property on Friday 28th October. The property was up for sale, and they had an open house viewing on Saturday 29th. Our checking out inventory was then done the following Thursday.

The inventory lists a few things wrong that we are disputing, the main thing being cleaning issues. We spent the whole day Friday cleaning the property, and we did a thorough job.

The inventory says that the hallway needs vacuuming due to light debris, the wooden flooring and skirting boards in the living room have might debris and dust, the kitchen work tops have light debris and the windows are dirty (they were when we moved in but windows weren't mentioned on that inventory)

As they had the open house viewing and possible private appointments inbetween, I've suggested the debris on the floorings must be caused by several people going into the property with shoes on etc, as the debris certainly wasn't there when we left. I've no idea how the worktops and windows are suddenly dirty (the photos they've given do not show this).

They said on Monday they would be speaking to the LL about how much he wants from our deposit. We've still not heard anything, and it's been 2 weeks now. So would it be ok if I started the claims process through the TDS website myself?

I feel it's up to the letting agents to provide the amended inventory too. I even sent a screen shot of the email from the LA confirming at the start of the tenancy that they had recieved the amended version, and it was uploaded onto their system.

They didn't reply to my emails, so I've phoned them and they said they need it all on a word document, with each photo of the amended check in on it, and then the screen shot of the date at time that photo was taken next to it.

When I try and do that, the photo is sideways on so it's just not working and there's 41 photos to do that with. I don't know what to do. I've asked them why they've left it so late and she couldn't answer, so I asked for an extension and she said she'll ask but isn't sure. Will have to see what they say.

I would say that if you provided amendments to the inventory and the ll/agent didn't incorporate them, that should be their problem to solve, not yours!

If you want to get them onto one document, I think the best way would be to convert them to pdfs but you would need to have the right software for that on your computer.

Is there a number you can give them a ring on?

How did you get on, OP? My understanding is that the LL has to put a watertight case together to justify deductions, and that the deposit is regarded as the tenant's until proved otherwise. So I thought you would win the adjudication.

They've given me an extension until Monday to send the info needed off by post.

I just don't understand what's gone on really. On the 13th December someone looked at it on a preliminary basis and said both sides had given all the evidence needed. So why wait until yesterday, giving me just 24 hours?

It's put a huge amount of stress on me today, and it's made me quite upset as it's brought back all the crappy feelings about what the LA/LL did to us (promised a long term let, 4 months in LL sells up and has done this to other tenants in the past, then when property doesn't sell, relets it). So just added to being in pain and feeling weird from codeine, I feel quite miserable from today as it literally took me hours to sort this all out - when I thought I was done with all this stress.

I honestly thought that given that they compromised the check out, that nothing else would be taken into account tbh. It seems it is though, as getting this amended inventory to them is obviously important. I'm just cross too as we still haven't had the undisputed amount back either.

I'll let you know what happens next week when we have a final decision

How'd it go op?