Urgent Help Needed - Deposit Held

[typerchris]

Hi,

 

I will try to keep this as simple as possible hoping for some help.

 

I signed a 6 month short hold tennancy on 3rd oct 08 which obviously expires on the 2nd May 09. We gave the landlord the relevant notice to leave the property.

 

When i moved into the property i informed the landlord that the exterior wall around the garden tap was damp he said it was fine and that was that.

 

We have now moved out, we actually moved out early so we could thoroughly clean etc we invited the landlords around to inspect the property and they confirmed everything was ok. I rang the letting agent to enquire when my deposit will be returned and was informed that they were advised not to release it. With it been a let only property they advised me to speak directly with the landlord. I was told that they had now found doors scratched by dog and also a cuboard damaged by a leaking pipe the cuboard behind the exterior tap beleive it or not.

 

I agreed the doors would be sorted even though i am unsure if our dog did damage them as never happened before.

 

My question is the pipe is behind the cuboard and has leaked into it as well as behind and under etc. This obviously caused damp patch on the wall ouside. The pipe is very grimey where its leaking so has been leaking for some time. The water has made the carcuss of the unit swell.

 

Surely this cannot be seen as my problem.

 

Any Suggestions????

[Planner]

Lodge a dispute with the particular TDS scheme that holds your deposit. YOu shouldnt be held responsible for damaged caused by a leaking pipe that you made them aware of.

[typerchris]

Lodge a dispute with the particular TDS scheme that holds your deposit. YOu shouldnt be held responsible for damaged caused by a leaking pipe that you made them aware of.

 

This is exactly what i was going to do however was trying to resolve it between us as tds would take months.

 

I didnt say x pipe is leaking because we was not aware as we never used the cuboard we just said about the damp on the external wall.

[Sali]

It is always advisable to make sure points you raise on check-in (or I think it's within 14 days of moving into your rented property), are in writing. I know this is too late for you and I do feel that it is unreasonable of the LL to deduct monies if it is for something you pointed. However, without writing to the LL to highlight this, your only other option is TDS. It's going to be a tough one though if you have no evidence. The LL could argue that you did not make him aware of the issue. I'm beginning to think that independent inventories should be carried out at the start/end of every tenancy.