Dodgy Deposit Dealings!

[elgorm]

Hello!

 

I have a funny query that probably has been covered before but I couldnt find any to get advice from.

 

I left my flat in Feb this year and when the landlord came round he pointed out some carpet stains on the carpet which I said we would pay to have fixed. we also damaged a key fob that we agreed to pay to replace.

 

They held onto the deposit for a couple of months while they sorted this out, we kept on phoning asking when it would be done so they can give us the rest back along with the deposit. Eventually we got a invoice from a company in Wigan, even though the flat was in Rochdale. So we got the deposit minus the carpet replacement and the keyfob which we thought was expensive but acceptable.

 

Today I had a parcel accidentally go to my old address so I went round to pick it up and got invited in for a brew. The new occupier show us the carpet was in the same state we left it and also she said they had not given her a new key fob.

 

The carpet cost was £125.

 

My question is - has the letting agency broken any laws with false invoicing?? And do we have a claim for any money back??

 

Thanks for reading!

[MrShed]

They are only entitled to charge their actual financial loss.

 

IF they didnt perform the repairs, then they arent entitled to deduct this cost from the deposit. Simple as.

[elgorm]

Thought as much. Do I simply ring them and ask for the money back?

 

Is it something more sinister that they have fabricated a invoice? Fraud??

[MrShed]

I would just write to them outlining the issue and asking for the money back within x days (14?).

[stephenie]

hmm during my time of renting so...5times altogether, 3times the agent/landlord/landlady took so much money off us, some of my friends even had their deposit taken away completely (1800pounds?) A lot of them are just trying to con the poor tenants, so have to stand your ground.