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Original poster

Do you need to meet tenants at end of tenancy agreement?

14 replies

Pitstop1986 · 25/06/2023 10:47

I have an awful tenant. His move out day is tomorrow. He has been asking me for his deposit back in cash for the last 2 weeks.

He was meant to be meeting me today to hand over keys and was expecting me to give him the deposit then, in cash. I told him that the deposit would be released all being well after the tenancy ends but I'd prefer to pay bank transfer.

I can no longer meet him today due to being called into work last minute to cover sickness and have told him to post the keys through the letterbox or to hand them to the estate agents who are selling the property and I will go and inspect yhe house when I can.

He's now gone mad because he wants his deposit back and was expecting it today, despite me telling him that it would be released after I'd inspected the property and all being well and he has insisted that I meet him today or tomorrow. I find him to be a horrible person so would love to avoid him if I can.

The tenancy agreement also says that I have 30 days to return the deposit. If everything is fine with the property I will return it, I'm not trying to be sly or awkward.

Do I have to legally meet him or is posting the keys through the letterbox sufficient? I'm kind of happy that I'm stuck in work right now, so that I physically don't have to see him but not sure if there is a requirement.

OP posts:
Lurtz · 25/06/2023 11:00

I've had a few instances where I've not been able to meet the landlord at the end of the tenancy (usually moving far away and our schedules didn't match up). I've either posted the keys through the letterbox or went to the estate agents and handed them in there with no issue.

Sorry you're dealing with a bad tenant OP - he sounds awful!

continentallentil · 25/06/2023 11:03

No you don’t need to, and especially not if he’s aggressive.

Tell him you’ll inspect as soon as you are able, but the terms are 30 days.,

Dogsitterwoes · 25/06/2023 11:09

I hope you put the deposit in one of the proper schemes. Wouldn't it take a few days to get it back any way? It's not normal to get a deposit back immediately, so don't be bullied.

Original poster
Pitstop1986 · 25/06/2023 11:11

@Dogsitterwoes that's what I'm trying to tell him- it's not like the money is in my account that I can just go and withdraw it, but he thinks that he is entitled to the deposit on handover of keys!

OP posts:
GoodChat · 25/06/2023 11:17

Tell him to speak to the estate agent rather than you directly. They'll he used to dealing with people like this.

LittleBearPad · 25/06/2023 11:21

I have never met any of my landlords. Posting the keys back is perfectly fine.

KievLoverTwo · 25/06/2023 11:25

I have neither met with a LL either. However, given that he sounds like a shady bugger, I would insist he takes the keys to the EA. And I would consider getting the locks changed or an extra lock added as soon as he does.

CutesyUserName · 25/06/2023 11:37

It is not normal for a deposit to be returned on the day a tenant moves out. The whole point is that you have the opportunity to inspect the property after he/she has vacated and check for damage, etc.

I absolutely would not return it until you've had the chance to do this, and certainly wouldn't be bullied/intimidated into doing so (which is what he is trying to do).

Get him to take the keys to the agent or post them back through the letterbox, and say that you'll return his deposit once the property has been inspected for damage. Also, there is no requirement for you to return his deposit in cash, especially if he paid by bank transfer.

Yarnysaura · 25/06/2023 11:52

Just tell him you are required to abide by the rules of the DPS and your hands are tied.

IBetGordonRamsayDoesntHaveTheseProblems · 25/06/2023 12:29

No need to see the tenant.

I wonder if the tenant is planning to pull a fast one with the deposit in cash - he'll receive that, then go to the deposit protection scheme and try claiming again for return of the deposit.

I would only ever return a deposit by bank transfer so there is a record.

RidingMyBike · 25/06/2023 13:07

We ended a tenancy recently and got our full deposit back. The landlord employed an inventory check company who would receive the keys, and it was up to me whether I wanted to be there for the final inspection. Or I could take the keys to the letting agent.

The deposit was returned quickly - abut ten days after the end of the tenancy. That was after the house inspection was satisfactory and the landlord had evidence finally utility bills etc had been paid.

We were asked to confirm what bank account we wanted the deposit paid into. I wouldn't return it to him without proof of handing it over eg evidence of bank transfer. Was it in just his name or joint? Our landlord wanted us to verify the bank account was in both our names - presumably to stop one person taking the whole deposit in the event of a relationship breakdown.

Original poster
Pitstop1986 · 25/06/2023 15:51

It's a married couple and joint tenancy. She's lovely, he's a bully in my opinion. I'm glad they're moving out and leaving my house.

Thanks for the advice, I'll ask for details for a joint account to pay it into. I wouldn't give them cash. It just sounds dodgy and the more he insists on receiving cash right away, the more that I am nervous that he's going to pull a fast one or do something amiss.

OP posts:
RidingMyBike · 25/06/2023 16:22

We had to email individually to confirm to landlord that 100% of the deposit went to our account. Make sure you're got this in writing rather than verbal.

KievLoverTwo · 25/06/2023 16:34

Pitstop1986 · 25/06/2023 15:51

It's a married couple and joint tenancy. She's lovely, he's a bully in my opinion. I'm glad they're moving out and leaving my house.

Thanks for the advice, I'll ask for details for a joint account to pay it into. I wouldn't give them cash. It just sounds dodgy and the more he insists on receiving cash right away, the more that I am nervous that he's going to pull a fast one or do something amiss.

I agree. If it's a joint tenancy agreement, I'd be extra specially carefully that it's returned to an account with both their names on it. Maybe they've split and he wants to do runner with the cash.

I have NEVER got a deposit back in cash.

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