Landlord keeping my deposit

[jakki 2006]

I put down a deposit on new flat which i found through letting agency,i called my landlord the same day to let him know i will be moving out and he even gave me references which letting agent asked for. on the same day landlord told me he is going on holidays ( that was after i told him ), and he will be back some days(didn't want to say when exactly) after my notice of 30 days ( in writting) expires. He said we sort deposit after he come back.So after month and some days i found by luck he was back (he didn't contact me i called him).When i came to pick up my deposit he took out a calculator and said i am owning him �250 for 9 days, these are the extra days after my month notice. So he goes on more than month long holidays and i pick up the bill??? I gave him keys and left ( leaved there for 7 years never problems did not expect that at all ). Sorry this is very long i just need someone to help thank you.

[malaise]

I would contact Citizen's Advice. Sounds like he's tried to get extra money from you by claiming to be "away", and as you hadn't returned the keys (as you had no means to) he has charged you unfairly.

[Kathyan]

Surely if you went through a letting agent, you should have handed the keys to them not the landlord? We let our house through a letting agent and they did everything from finding the tenants, collecting the rent to giving notice and collecting the keys when the tenants left. You should not have had to contact the landlord at all, the letting agents are paid to do all this by the landlord. Who did you pay your rent to? If it was the letting agents I would contact them first.

[jakki 2006]

Hi Kathyan, he is a private landlord who advertise in local shops.

[jakki 2006]

Hello malaise, thanks for your answer i went to Citizen's Advice, they told me 70% of tenants always looses they deposit or part of it.So i will ask him in writting ( send it recorded) for what reasons is he keeping money. Now i'm thinking about it he always had arguments with people in other flats now i know why, he must have done it before.We'll see how it all ends.

[malaise]

I hope you get your money back! I had a landlord try to keep my deposit of �550 because there was a mark on the wall where I'd hung my calendar! Don't think it costs �550 to patch up a 2mm hole, but unfortunately some poeple are just out for what they can get :(

[themas]

Did you use the flat at all after your 30 days notice expired? If you did then you can't safely do anything much. If you didn't and you can't persuade the landlord to repay you the only action you can take is a small claims court claim. You will have to have evidence - the tenancy agreement, a copy of your letter giving notice etc. - and pay a fee (which you get back if successful). Details are on the Court Service site.

[jakki 2006]

Hi themas,notice expired on 19 we moved out on 7, 12 days before 30 days notice, we have papers from company who helped us moving boxes.So no we did not use it after that date we went there next day to clean and we got new light bulbs but thats all.

[clancyblob]

This problem of deposit and damage deposits not being returned is long-standing in my experience. Part of my job is helping people set up home for the first time, etc. We put up the deposit, but often have a battle to get it back when the person moves on. There was talk locally, and I think nationally, of having some neutral organisation holding deposits to avoid this kind of thing. Not heard much about it recently though.