What to do...

[kevb0444]

My GF has just moved into a new flat and is now getting grief from her old landlord. She has to give a months notice, which she did, but due to problems with the new flat she had to give her notice in the 6th of June. She pays her rent on the 1st of every month so has had to pay for an extra part month (an extra 6 days) As she's had some money trouble with her bank (claim being made) she had to have the extra money taken from her deposit, as well as some rent arrears. She was looking at getting £60 of her deposit back after all the problems.

Anyways...the landlord sent a rep round to look at the flat (which is in good condition) and isn't happy with it and expected to be in perfect condition. the rep was very rude and made snide coments saying "do you actualy know how to clean" even though the flats in the same condition as when she got it 2 years ago. The rep demanded the carpets be cleaned as she said they where dirty, which they aren't and just went on to pick at all these little things that she think need doing, even though they where done. To cap it off she told us she was expecting to get the keys back on the day of the inspection, even though my GF was paid up till the 6th of July. She then went on about some T's & C's she recon my GF had broke.

Thing is she went on about that, but when my GF 1st looked at the flat she asked the rep (the same one we saw yesterday) she asked if the other tenants were noisy or if they'd had any trouble with them and the rep said they'd had no problems. She took the flat and before long the tenant below har started making lots of noise which went on for 6 months untill they left. She spoke to one of the other tenants who said there had been loads of complaints about the noisy tentant since she moved in 5 years earlier. She mentioned this to the rep who said she new about the complaints but could do nothing. Now she's claiming my GF has broke the T's & C's but didn't they brake them by miss leading her about the noisy tenant?

[kevb0444]

Ok.

Still having trouble with said landlord/company (Evenbrook). It's been 2 months since my GF moved out and when she left the landlords rep was finaly happy with the place and agreed to give her the rest of her deposit back, minus 2 days rent to cover any "un-expected problems"

Anyways my GF still hadn't received anything back from the [edited] and she wrote them a polite reminder. A few days later the rep phoned her and told her she wouldn't even waste her time in writing a reply to my GF's letter and stated she would NOT get the rest of her deposit back. When she asked why she was told that they had to replace an emersion heater (costing £365) which they claim she had painted over, when she didn't. The woman then told my GF she was lucky they weren't gonna send her the bill for it!!!

When the rep done the final inspection she commented on the heater and said that she new the tenant before my GF had done it. Now she's claiming my GF done it and isn't going to give her the deposit back even though she said she would!!!

I think they are just trying it on. I've written to Evenbrooks head office.

Any other advice would be very gratefull.

Thanks in advance.


Kev

[blacksheep1979]

It may not be worth the hassle for £60 - if the landlord wanted there are probably t&c's in the contract for charges for late payment of rent (you say she was in arrears) and they will more than likely be able to provide some sort of bill for cleaning which will take a fair chunk out of the £60.

The noise thing would have maybe been a deal breaker if you had reported it as/when it had happened and wanted to move out.

You don't have to pay for an emersion heater as paint isn't going to damage it.

If you really want to press the matter write to the agency or landlord (whoever the contract was with) accurately laying out how much money was owed to them at the end of the tennancy and how much deposit you have. Do the maths request what is owed and give them a deadline, if they don't stick to it deal with it through the small claims court.

If you do go to court, keep the petty he was rude he's a [edited] etc out of it as this really will not be looked upon favourably, but I still wouldn't be overly hopeful of getting much from them.

[kevb0444]

Ok....
I wrote to Evenbrook head office on the 26th, letting them know what was going on and they replied stating they were looking into it. Not sure how long that will take.

Oh and blacksheep....thanks very much for the reply ...i don't normaly go around calling people [edited], but i was soo jared off by them it just slipped out!! I know the company hasn't done anything wrong, it's just their rep thats being a pain, but one someone [edited] about something it can get ya blood boiling!!!

[kevb0444]

Hi all....

Got a letter from them today saying what they feel needed to be done to the place. It's funny as they don't include any prices. They claim they needed to:

Replace 2 wall sockets
Install 2 new smoke detectors
Replace the toilet seat
Install a new storage heater
Repay £6 dept on electric meter

The thing is the wall sockets were broke already. There was nothing wrong with the old smoke detectors. I'm not sure about the toilet seat....i geuss thats more of a personal choice to them. The storage heater worked fine. They claim some on painted over it, yes the tenant before me. But a bit of paint wouldn't damage it!! As to the £6 on the meter. They pesterd my GF to leave 2 days early and when she left the meter was in credit. So if in the next few days it went out of credit then i acn't see how thats my problem. Plus the meter only had a £5 limit for emergency credit!!

They said as a good will gesture they wouldn't charge her any more than the remainder of her deposit!!!

Oh well...

[demon_x_slash]

I would contest the storage heater. Do you have anyone in your social circle who is employed as a plumber/handyman/electrician? Try and find out how much the sockets and seat would cost, plus labour (I would think no more than 15 mins per job!), and that's the maximum you should be paying out of your deposit. You do not have to replace the smoke detectors, the landlord does - they're obliged to in properties built after 1997 - even if they do need replacing, which I doubt. In any case, smoke detectors are £6.99 from your local Wilkinsons/Robert Dyas/etc.

[blacksheep1979]

I would also contest the smoke detectors if they are on the ceiling (which they should be) as if they are no longer working that will be fair wear and tear unless you smashed them with something - highly unlikely.

[kevb0444]

Ok, quick up date.

Got a cheque from them for £20 and a letter saying that "without any admission of liability whatsoever, Evenbrook is prepared to offer £20 as a full and final settlement of this matter."

The letter then goes on to say that if i do not accept the cheque and wish to persue the mater further "Evenbrook reserves its rights to pursue and claim in respect of outstanding rental arrears and dilapidation payments that are properly your responsibility under your former tenancy agreement"

Then they go on to say "As you are aware in Evenbrook's opinion, the rental arrears and dilapidations exceed your rental deposit."

Hmmm thats nice of them. I'm thinking of just taking the money and forgetting about all this. But i don't see how they can sue me for rent arrears when they've been paid and i got a letter from them to prove it.
Oh well...

[kevb0444]

After talking to my GF about all this she has dicided to take their offer as she is tierd of all this and doesn't want to drag it out any more.

Thanks for all the help anyways...

[normal-person]

A reply on behalf of Evenbrook - the comments made by the 'complainant' or vicariously on her behalf by someone claiming a connection - appear defamatory [edited] and potentially actionable. Unsubstantiated allegations should not be made on sites such as this with the expectation of impunity or of no right of reply. It is interesting to note, as an observation, that for some people, eveything is someone's fault eg the comment about the bank "claim being made".
Evenbrook is a responsible residential property owner offering high quality affordable accommodation to its customers and reserves the right to take action should any further potentially defamatory comments be made.

[AnimalMagic]

Then why don't you reply with facts instead of threats?

[Joa]

Oh Evenbrook- cry me a river....

rep was finaly happy with the place and agreed to give her the rest of her deposit back, minus 2 days rent to cover any "un-expected problems"

withholding deposit for un-expected problems? that's a first....very professional...indeed.

[demon_x_slash]

This website also offers the 'right to reply' - as you, er, 'normal-person', have so eloquently displayed...

[Rooster-UK]

Hi "nornal-person"

We do not allow libellous comment on this site.
I have edited all posts in this thread, including yours, that contain the word you are complaining about.
For the most part we rely on users to report any transgression of the site rules. With only 33 Moderators and Site Helpers, 148,000 registered users, 85,300 threads containing nearly 850,000 posts, I think we do pretty well.
What I do find strange is that you have registered today to post on a thread that has not been posted to for 8 months.
Apart from the little flurry of activity that your post has initiated, the thread is dead.
I am, therefore, closing it.

Regards, Rooster.