Hi everyone, Hope I can get a little bit of advice again regarding my mother in laws tenancy, which has ended. She moved out of the house a few weeks ago and has complied with all the landlords wishes ie-cleaned the carpets etc. They have also charged her £70 for a fumigator to do the house because she had cats there, which was fine by her, but now, after struggling to get her deposit, they have told her she can have it back, but they are holding £200 of it in case there are any flea eggs left, to which she can have it back in six months time. The cats were always treated, so that shouldn't be a problem, but if they turn round and say she can't have the £200 back, can she ask for proof of what they are using the money for? Her bond is in a deposit scheme as far as I am aware, so could she go through them to make sure the landlord isn't keeping her money unnecessarily? Many thanks for your invaluable help! Steve

Hi again ...my apologies, part of the readings are estimated, so hard to work out how they are put down. The readings say Start reading 38634 Estimated 25 Nov 10 and End reading 42493 Estimated 04 Jan 11 (charged £340) Start reading 42493 Estimated 04 Jan 11 and End reading 46005 Actual 11 Feb 11 (£308 charged). If they have estimated from Nov will they be able to get the actual reading for that time? Sorry to sound a bit thick ..just don't know how they work all this out! Many thanks Steve

Hiya, the bill is an actual reading! Mind boggling!

Hi, I'e just had a look at her bill and she is on a 'fixed price energy 2011' not quite sure if thats good? On her bill it also shows 'electricity usage for this period last year was 200 KWh and for this period it is 7371 KWh, we just can't understand the vast difference. Its like someone has plugged into her supply!

Hi there! I am asking for a bit of advice on behalf of my mum who has just received her latest gas/electricity bill from Scottish Power. She is a 74 year old lady living on her own and is now absolutely frantic as her electricity bill is stating that from 25/11/10-3/01/11 she has used £340 of electric and then from 4/01/11-10/02/11 she has used £308! Considering she only uses basic appliances like the tv, washer, lights, kettle etc (not even a drier) we are astounded that the bill is so high and they are now demanding £253 a month! We wanted to ring them straight away when we saw her last night, but were too late (their lines close at 7pm) so we're going to try today....but would just like a bit of advice on how to deal with them, I'm pretty sure they are going to say its right! If they won't do anything is there anything else we can do for her, anyone else to ring to help? Many thanks in advance for any help! Regards Steve

Hi all, I'm looking for advice on how to proceed with this fine...I received the fine today which was dated from 4/1/11 for an offence (to which I totally deny) which was committed on the 22/12/10. One of our company vans (logo'd) was apparently seen at 4pm dumping a bed/mattress within 3mins of their warehouse and within 100m of the local refuse site. On this day I was driving the lorry in question, but the time they say the offence was committed I was 20 miles away....and can prove it with my tachograph readings. They have said they have a witness who saw a male driver dumping the said items at that time, which I totally refute as I was never in the area. I am going to see them on Monday, can anyone possibly advise me on where I stand? Does my tacho reading stand? or, as they have sent the fine out, do I have to pay, even if I have proof I was never there? Thanks and regards Steve.

Hi there, Thanks for the advice. To summarize, she lives in Lowestoft and the agents were well aware of her pets before she moved in, as many had refused, but these gave her the green light. In the contract it says no pets, only at landlords discretion, so they have added a slip of paper stating they are going to withhold £200 for fumigation (nothing signed though). The property has had a very high turnover of tenants, she has found out since moving in, we now know why. She had an inventory and nothing was said about any faults, especially when she mentioned about an open fire in the winter, so she accepted it as a fully functioning warm home. There was no mention of the back boiler being faulty or she would not have taken it on. Also it was the height of summer when she moved in so for 4 months didn't bother with heating. I personally have repaired the shelving, blinds and the front door (because she couldn't close it properly). She cannot have a bath either, because the mixer tap is so furred up inside, it cannot be switched from shower to bath. When she told the agents about this, their reply was "yes, the previous tenants told us about that"! The boiler is so old you cannot get parts for it. Apparently the landlady lives abroad permanently, hence the delays. This week she has had the agents out again, who have said yes, its cold isn't it? we'll have to get in touch with the landlord again! She has told them that she has visited the council regarding the heating and the agent just said we'll have to see what happens then...not sure what they meant by that? All they say is "we've got to get in touch with the landlord".It just seems like an excuse not to do anything and at the moment she is very cold, we've also told her to visit the local paper to see if they would be interested in pushing the agents with her story! We want to do more for her but live nearly 200 miles away, or else we would be at the agents door every day.

Hiya, many thanks to all your replies, my mum-in-law is now thinking of leaving (she only has two more months left to go). The estate agent she has to go through has told her that the landlord has asked if she has heating and hot water, to which she has told them that yes, she has the immersion heater for hot water and a gas fire in her front room, but nothing else (apart from an electric heater that she has to use upstairs). We feel that they are covering their own backs so they don't need to sort the back boiler out (which would heat the house properly) because she has the gas fire and immersion heater, do they still need to get it repaired?. Regarding the bond and deposit scheme I have read that if you are leaving and believe that the LL hasn't used any scheme at all, that its best not to say anything until you have moved out and then pursue it? If she has to do this, does she have to sue the actual LL or the estate agents the house is let through? Sorry for more questions but I really want her to know where she stands and what she can do! Many thanks again! Regards Steve

Hi, everyone....I'm posting on behalf of my mum-in-law regarding her privately rented house she has been in for four months. She is a young 70 year old! and its her first time renting privately, but doesn't understand all the ins and outs, especially regarding her deposit. We have told her about the deposit scheme that her landlord should use (?) but she has said her contract just says that the estate agent her landlord uses is holding it. Is there a letter template I can use to request information into which scheme they are using? because they are treating her awful at the minute - back boiler to heat the house not working, stating they are going to keep £200 of her deposit to 'fumigate the house' regarding her cats and their fleas! (even though they are treated!) and an awful lot of repairs the house needs doing to which they keep saying "yes we know about that" but do nothing! We really want to help her sort things out with your help! So many thanks for replies! Steve