Grrr! Deposit issues.

I need help. 

My former landlord is being an issue.He told me I could leave anytime between early March and June 1rst 2007 because of a need for council-forced renovation. (I suspect this is a lie, he just wants me gone). I moved out 4th April. Now I moved out "early".

He claims that I left the flat "disgusting" and "uninhabitable". Complete RUBBISH. Some UKY people were there 3 days before I moved. Unless I went on a mad rampage, they will tell you the flat was just fine.

So I told him I have time dated photos proving the flat was 10x cleaner the day I moved out v. the day I moved in. All of a sudden, the damage is a "broken stove". Interesting. So it is something that cannot be proved with a photo. The stove was not broken, and was very very clean. He claims to have not even seen the flat (he lives 2 floors above!). But his wife was "taken aback" at the condition of at first sight...Interesting, how is that possible with a non functional hob? You can't tell unless you turn it on! Either way, am I even responsible unless I pelted it with stones or threw acid on it?

I will claim one piece of damage- 2 burnt out lightbulbs. I would have changed them, but I could not reach. That is it. I will pay 2 pounds on their behalf.

What can I say, I have little in writing, but I have tonnes of witnesses from the moving man, etc. I need this money. I have talked to my Uni Accommodation office and my solicitor brother...I know of citizens advice bureau....I so wish that new law was in affect a year ago. 

Please help me! Thanks.

 I dont know if this will help, but here is a website dealing with tenancy law, http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/home/tenancyrights/yourrightsasatenant
 good luck, 

Sprigged,

Sorry to hear of this, sounds like the landlord is just trying to screw out as much money from you as possible - which is bang out of order.

When one of my tennants moved out, I went around with him there and we both went from room to room to check on stuff. The things I found and showed him as damaged we immediatley agreed a charge/fix fee for. Turns out it was about £100 worth which he paid me in cash there and then.

if only it was that simple huh?!

Is it possible you can get the current tenants to write up and sign a description of how they found the flat? maybe take that to a solicitor ? then challenge the idiot lowlife landlord ?   ask the landlord to prove it was in the condition he says it was ?  even if it means you have to go through a long drawn process, you know you are in the right.

Ask him to claim off his insurance for the non functional hob and that if it's proven it's broken due to negligence by you, that you'll pay the cost of the part replacement and labour? else he can sod off.

further to the link whiteknight posted here's another section dealing specifically with deposit return issues. Have your legal Bro look into this for you as well

http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/askthesiteqandas/housingqandas/depositdispute

I think as a landlord, when I get new tenants in, I'm going to take photo's of all rooms, including more detailed ones of anything specific, write up a full description of each furnishing and it's condition, all appliances and their state of repair etc etc and get them to read and sign it. At the end of the tenancy, it's bought back out and a physical inspection with both parties there is carried out (like ive done already) any discrepancies or issues can be highlighted there and then and appropriate fix/compensation agreed right away.

So from a renters perspective, it means I as a landlord am looking out for my property but doing so all fair and square - and everyone knows where they stand and there's no possibility of 'just making things up' as what's so common nowadays with d|ckhead landlord(ladys)

Good luck !

DtM West London & Slough UK!

Does he have photographs 'proving' the damage?  Does he have an inventory which was signed in your presence at the beginning of the tenancy and at the end of the tenancy?  If he does not have any evidence, then stick at him.  But be careful.  I got screwed in this way by a landlady, and because she got solicitors I ended up in a whole heap of trouble.

If he is claiming a broken stove, then tell him that you need evidence.  End of story.

You need to get this sorted sooner rather than later.  Definitely get your brother to speak to them.

Vicky

Sprigged, I would write him a letter setting out what you think he owes you. Tell him to pay up within 7 days or contact you to negotiate it, or you will file a small claim.

Then if he doesn't respond you can do a small claim online:

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp

It will count against him if you have offered to negotiate and he's refused.

oh i hope this worked out for you... my landlord was rats at giving me my deposit.  telling me that she had never seen the place in such a state, etc.... (even though her designated letting agency checked me out and could vouch for the cleaniness).  took a lot of heeing & hawing... but 6 weeks later i got 95% of my deposit back.

not that this is help for you for your previous landlord but it will help with your current. under new law starting for new lease agreements dated 1 april 2007, landlords are not allowed to hold onto your deposit. they have to put the money into a third party holding system and then they determine whether or not youll get your deposit back or not. if they feel you dont, they will notify you to allow you to appear before them and defend yourself.

good luck with your current situation.

Thank you so much everyone...My brother has found a solicitor for me at the London branch of his firm... I'll keep you updated.