Quick question on desposit return for shorthold tenancy agreement

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

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Hi all,

I have done lots of searches on Google but cannot find an answer.

Is there a law on how long it should take for the landlord/letting agency to return a deposit to you?

I moved out on 29th August and was told there were a couple of bits they needed to check with the landlord (10 minute inventory on move in and 50 minute inventory on check out - WTF? Not happy!). I still haven't heard back about this and I think they are taking the **** now.

Thanks
 
it will say on your contract. IIRC there is no time period by law in the uk, so down to your contract. Wish they would employ American law.
 
29th of August? Jesus that's almost a year.... that's not a typo right?

Get in contact with them and harass them mate, that's just ridiculous!

Also you could look into making sure that your deposit was placed in a Deposit Protection Scheme, if not you could get up to 3x your deposit back :)
 
oh yeah, look on the deposit protection website. You should have an account number and see what they say. You might be able to open a dispute up. when did you move in? is it before the cscheme started? Have you chased them. I would go in and demand the money back. Much easier to fob you off over teh phone than in face. Hopfully it's in a deposit protection scheme, if so get advice of them and open a dispute up if you can.

cheers guys :)
 
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Its the norm that as long as all utility bills are paid and no problems were found at you're premise then it should be within 20 days.

7 and a half months is a tad long. There must be a problem as there is no interest ever paid on deposits so they wouldn't be holding onto it for that.
 
Moving Out

At the end of the tenancy, check whether you are leaving the property and its contents in the condition in which it was let to you - allowing for fair wear and tear- and check that you have paid your rent and any other expenses. Then agree with your landlord or agent how much of the deposit should be returned to you.

Within 10 days – you should have received the agreed amount of the deposit.
Click to expand...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/DG_066373
 
And also

What if a landlord fails to provide the tenant with information on the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme?

When accepting a deposit the landlord or letting agent is required to ensure:

*

The deposit is protected by one of the three government backed Tenancy Deposit Protection schemes, see section on Who manages Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes?
*

They follow the rules of the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme which they have registered with.
*

The tenant is provided with information within fourteen days of the deposit being received.

Failure to comply with any of above may lead to the landlord facing court action and being unable to reposes the property, under Section 21 of the Housing Act.

The tenant has the right to seek compensation if the landlord does not provide them with information about the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme used. The compensation for the tenant is equivalent to three times that of the deposit.
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http://www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection-schemes.htm

I'm currently looking into this myself as we move out of our current flat in one weeks time and have had absolutely no hint that our deposit has been protected.

If anyone can give me a hint on what to do, I'd appreciate any advice (sorry for thread hijacking btw).
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Hi all,

I have done lots of searches on Google but cannot find an answer.

Is there a law on how long it should take for the landlord/letting agency to return a deposit to you?

I moved out on 29th August and was told there were a couple of bits they needed to check with the landlord (10 minute inventory on move in and 50 minute inventory on check out - WTF? Not happy!). I still haven't heard back about this and I think they are taking the **** now.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Been doing a bit of reading mate and provided you moved in after April 2007 you should be in the Secured Deposit Protection scheme, you should receive your deposit within 10 days of leaving.

You are also entitled to claim interest on the deposit if it's not returned quick enough.

You are entitled to interest on money you are owed. If the landlord offers to settle your claim, make
sure s/he agrees to pay interest up to the date of settlement, and your court fees, as well as the
amount of the deposit.
The claim form (see sections 7 and 14) shows you how to claim for interest, but you will need to
calculate how much interest you are owed. Court leafl et EX302 explains how to do this. See the copy
of the leafl et at the back of this pack, or download your own from www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/news/
forms/docs/ex302_0406.pdf.
You need to calculate the daily rate of interest, which is 0.00022 x amount claimed.
You also need to calculate the amount owed up to the date you issue your claim in the court. Do this
by multiplying the days from the date the deposit should have been paid into the scheme (or the date
the prescribed information should have been given) up to the date you pay the court fee and “issue”
the claim in court.
Example
Your claim is for £800.
Daily rate of interest = £800 x 0.00022 = £0.176
Your deposit should have been protected on 1 May. You issue your claim on 27 May.
Daily rate of interest £0.176 x 26 days elapsed = Interest due of £4.58
If your claim goes all the way to a hearing, and you win, the court will add interest for the time
between the issue of your claim and the day of judgement.
You cannot claim interest for the period after judgement on sums less than £5,000.
Click to expand...
 
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