Rental Deposit – Tenant Seeks Advice

Rental Deposit – Tenant Seeks Advice

18:38 PM, 10th July 2014, About 11 years ago 105

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I was renting a property as we were renovating our own property. We took very good care of the house and had it professionally cleaned before we handed it back to the estate agency, who was happy but requested that the external drains be cleaned and the grass cut. Both were done. Rental Deposit - Tenant Seeks Advice

After that began a long set of emails with rubbish claims from the owner such as there are weeds in the garden, cracks in the outdoor tiles (which I had not noticed and are not in the inventory – it was winter so we never went out) and loads of other things such as saying there was a smell of cigarettes even although we do not smoke.

I have tried hard to get my deposit back and even offered to give £200 from it to avoid the hassle and time wasting but the landlord wants the lot.

The estate agency is doing nothing.

Should I go to the dispute resolution or court and how do either of them work and are they any good?

Thanks

Dr Ahmad Aziz


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Industry Observer

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12:18 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Ahmed

Mark has asked me to comment on this I am not clear exactly which scheme you are with can you confirm.

Is the deposit lodged with DPS or more likely, as an agent is involved, is it with Mydeposits (also known as Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd).

The prescribed information you were served with when the tenancy started, either as part of the tenancy agreement or a separate document, will state it very near the start

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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12:34 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Industry Observer " at "14/07/2014 - 12:18":

It's DPS and the only thing he has is an email. This doesn't mean the certificate and prescribed information wasn't served of course, it just means he hasn't got it now.

The issue I wanted you to comment on was the DPS rules on what happens if the landlord/agent refuse dispute resolution. I thought they had no choice and the tenant would win by default in this instance but apparently not. To me this appears to be a major drawback with the custodial scheme.
.

Romain Garcin

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13:07 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

This looks covered by section 24(c) of the DPS's T&Cs:

"In the event that a Landlord or a Tenant does not provide their consent for the Dispute to be resolved through the ADR Procedure, the Dispute must be resolved by the parties or through the courts.

If the party who does not provide its consent for the Dispute to be resolved through the ADR Procedure does not start the required court proceedings within 6 months of responding to the repayment claim or Statutory Declaration Notice, indicating that they do not consent to the ADR Procedure, any disputed amount may be released by The DPS to the other party."

Ahmed Aziz

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13:10 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

I never received any certificate, just that email and it's with DPS, the.custodial system. When I called them to clarify today they told me that if he doesn't respond there is nothing I can do but go to court. If he doesn't respond within 14 days then I can do a single claim request via a Magistrate or solicitor but the if he responds and refuses I have to go to court. Does this make sense cos it sure doesn't seem fair

Industry Observer

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13:26 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Ah I see

What Romain is quoting is the key issue and is there to prevent either party simply saying no to ADR and then also not bothering to go to Court as plaintiff.

If either party does not agree then they must sort it out between themselves.

But if one party is silent and refuses to communiucate, then the single party claim can be used via \ Stat Dec for I think a fiver? On receipt DPS will try and contact the other party, Rules say they allow 14 days but they are generous on the clock.

If the silent party remains silent then DPS pays the other and are indemnified against a claim by the loser.

There are nio flaws in DPS Mark it actually ensures no-one runs off with the tenant's money, the only scheme to do so. It is the other two schemes that are surplus to requirements, always have been, they only exist because of the vested interests of their members - agents for TDS and Landlords for Mydeposits.

Industry Observer

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13:28 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Sorry meant to add in Scotland they made the same mistake and allowed too many schemes but at least they are all custodial and, I think, all have this single claim mechanism which can be used by Landlords as well.

Industry Observer

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13:30 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Sorry me again

Did I see a comment that the agent was doing nothing?

If when the dispute is raised (if it is) the agent still holds the deposit then they will be the party Mydeposits will deal with, not the Landlord.

Cours if the agent has passed the money to the Landlord and the tenant loses financially he can sue the agent anyway

Michael Barnes

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18:43 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "14/07/2014 - 12:34":

I believe that the email that is refered to (from the DPS) is the equivalent of the certificate in an insurance-based scheme.

Michael Barnes

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18:58 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Ahmed Aziz" at "13/07/2014 - 00:33":

assuming that the property is in England or Wales (you still havenot confirmed this), the landlord must give you certain information (known as the "prescribed information") about the deposit and the tenancy.

The required information is given at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/797/made.

There is no standard form for this information and it may be part of the tenancy agreement or a separate document. The tenant must be given the oportunuty to confirm that the information is correct.

Ahmed Aziz

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19:46 PM, 14th July 2014, About 11 years ago

In England. But the whole process looks unfair. I have put a disputed claim to the DRS, I predict he will not consent so then I have a max of 6 months to take him to court with all it's financial costs as solicitors or he will get the money unfairly!!!

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