Deposit problem after agent stopped trading?

Deposit problem after agent stopped trading?

10:14 AM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago 11

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A tenant has recently vacated my property which was rented through a letting agent. The letting agent stopped trading during the duration of the tenancy and its now come to light that they didn’t lodge the deposit with the DPS as was stated on the tenancy agreement.

Where do I stand as the landlord regarding the deposit as the tenant is now demanding I repay the deposit.

Many thanks

Dean


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Neil Patterson

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10:21 AM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Hi Dean,

First port of call is to start with the redress scheme that the agent belonged to. They may have details of other landlords they have done this to. They may also hopefully have records of the agent's Client Money Protection insurance.

If not and there are enough landlords affected then you and they may be able/wish to consider a Private Prosecution.

Our team at Cotswold Barristers have been successful in the past for large groups, but they have all settled out of court and cannot be disclosed.

Please see >> https://www.property118.com/contact-legal-counsel/

Graham Bowcock

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11:11 AM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Dear Dean

As the agent was representing you, then technically you did receive the money; it is obviously unfortunate that the agent was dodgy but this is not your tenant's fault (I appreciate that it was not your fault either, but he was your agent). If the tenant is entitled a refund of his deposit I would pay it and be glad he is not seeking any penalty for the failure to protect.

And, of course, pursue the dodgy agent until he is entirely aware of the grief he has caused, pays up whilst living in a tiny bedsit and is too embarrassed to walk down your local street. We must get rid of these people.

Graham

Annie Landlord

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14:58 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Unfortunately my understanding is that the deposit remains the responsibility of the landlord, so the landlord has to repay the tenant. I hope you can pursue the rogue agent and get your money back. Does the tenant have proof that they paid a deposit?

Cathie

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15:25 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

We had this problem. Had to pay the deposit and we also lost a number of months’ rent that the agent absconded with. Couldn’t trace him. ☹️

H B

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20:48 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Simpson at 30/05/2018 - 10:51
Not sure that you are using common sense, Ian. The deposit is the landlord's responsibility even if you have asked for it to be paid to someone else.

Graham Bowcock

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9:22 AM, 31st May 2018, About 7 years ago

Ian

Glad to hear that your problem got resolved, but I think the general principle is that when you acquire a property (purchase or inherit) you assume the position of the existing landlord, including all of their failings. If not then the system would be open to abuse (it wasn't me guv, it was my brother/cousin/uncle Dick, etc.).

They key for anyone buying a property with tenants is good due diligence and using a lawyer who knows their way around the lettings system. Any discrepancies need to be accounted for by indemnities or price reduction so that the subsequent landlord can always honour legal commitments).

Graham

Jonathan R

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9:33 AM, 31st May 2018, About 7 years ago

Not knowing all the details it is hard to say what I would do, however if this happened to me, with the tenants I have currently, I would pay them the deposit back myself.

They might need it to rent somewhere else and it isn't their fault.

Jonathan

Yvonne Francis

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11:14 AM, 31st May 2018, About 7 years ago

I believe the Landlord is legally required to return the deposit to their tenants if the agent fails to do so. If the deposit is not registered and the tenancy has ended then the tenant is entitled to claim three times the amount from the Landlord.

If it was me I would pay back without question and hope my tenants do not know their rights on this question and in future go to reputable long standing agents and keep checking them.

blair

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10:59 AM, 2nd June 2018, About 7 years ago

I had similar happen to me with a agent I inherited He confirmed that deposit was with a government approved scheme but when he failed to pay his annual premium the guaranty was withdrawn. All this was unbeknown to me as the scheme management never store to me only my tenant to tell them I couldn't evict them as my deposit was no longer in a government approved scheme. Agent disappeared with my money never to be found nor my money. Yes I had to repay the tenant his deposit

Coops

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13:04 PM, 2nd June 2018, About 7 years ago

I had similar problem with an agent absconding with the deposit and rent. The deposit was supposedly registered with the property ombudsman but they could not find a record of it. The agent was displaying the property ombudsman logo on their website and windows right up to the time they stopped trading but as the agents had failed to pay their annual premium, the property ombudsman would not intervene.

The tenant could not find details of the deposit registration, so I paid them the deposit to avoid the potential fine for not protecting the deposit.

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