 Holding/Security deposit refund question
Hello there,
Last week I had found a property to rent, and the landlord was in a rush to have a tenant in place, despite me not being able to take it on for another month
In order to secure the place, we agreed I would pay around half of the agreed security deposit (£750) to take the property off the market, with the remainder of the security deposit to follow the following week when we'd sign contracts after references had been taken. The tenancy was due to commence some 4 weeks after that.
However, the landlords haste to have me secured meant that I had handed over this deposit a mere 24 hours after having first seen the property, and in all honesty, I just hadn't considered all the various pluses and minuses involved
After the drive home, it began to dawn on me that I had made a mistake, so within the hour I had called the landlord and informed them that I wouldn't actually be taking on the property, all of this took place within 36 hours of first seeing the property.
There was some general grumbling, and he was heading off for the weekend on holiday, so he said I should confirm the decision to him in writing over the weekend, which I did.
I have received nothing back from him, and a brief telephone call (during which he hung up on me), it would appear I won't be getting this money back.
On the receipt he has given me for this money, he has writtne "non-refundable". Is it the case that I cannot get this money back?
I can understand being held liable for his expenses after being handed the money, and being told I wouldn't be taken it on, but this was a single day, and he hadn't done any work on the tenancy or references by that time.
So is it worth using the governments moneyclaim website to get this money back? As I said, I can understand some expenses being taken, but half of a security deposit for a non-existent contract, which he held for all of 2 hours before being told I wasn't taking the property on, seems a tad harsh to me
Any advice greatfully received !!
Steven | 
