Updating post from Reddit.
I don't really use reddit, so hopefully this is the correct sub. Please help. Im in England.
I've been renting in central London from a "nice" old guy that owns a single rental property for about 4 years. I expect to die in around 3 weeks and to be kind to my "nice" old landlord I decided to move out in advance, financially a bad decision, but it felt right..... I've rented from someone that owns hundreds of properties.
Everything seemed to have gone well, before I moved out we agreed he would keep £350 from the deposit to cover professional cleaning, return the rest and return any remainder after the cleaning. I agreed to this. After 3 weeks I called him to ask what was happening with the deposit and got told; The lounge is shabby and needs redecorating, the damage caused by the curtain rails in the bedroom need to be repaired and the whole room will need redecorating, the bathroom has mould and water damage and needs repairs, the holes from the shelves in the kitchen need to be repaired and the whole room needs redecorating. He expects to pay for it from my deposit.
Some details:
When I moved in there were no curtains or blinds in the bedroom. I already had curtains and poles, the landlord put the poles up for me. The poles were expensive and I left them when moving out because I no longer need them.
The landlord agreed to me putting up shelves and some spice racks in the kitchen, the kitchen was very small with inadequate storage. I have filled the holes and sanded them. The paint the landlord used was bright orange and its faded with age and is therefore difficult to match (plus I didn't have the time or energy), I'm told the paint was also very expensive.
The bathroom had inadequate ventilation and the sealing on the bath failed in a few places (I told the landlord about this but was ignored). I have my own dehumidifier, but there are damp marks despite this. There is no mould but that's mostly because I have been using anti mould cleaning products.
The lounge is fine, no damage, but after 4 years of normal usage it looks tired.
Can anyone offer some advice? I have a standard openrent contract and the deposit is protected by the government scheme. Honestly, this is the last thing I want to be dealing with, but I'm also not going to let my landlord steal from my estate. I now regret doing what I felt was the right thing at the time.
Since telling me he plans to steal my deposit the landlord is not answering his phone and does not respond to emails.
You need to go through the deposit scheme. They'll ask for all the proof from the landlord, you can counter it and they'll make the final decision. A landlord cannot claim from your deposit for "betterment" and they also depreciate for things like decorating. The only communication you should have regarding the deposit return is through the scheme.
This is the answer above, but OP, you have my sympathy, and I think everyone else here will agree with me that your LL should only he described in some blue anglo saxon terms from now on.
Thank you! and the other posters. I'm going to contact the deposit scheme today, hopefully there is sufficient time.
I think "betterment" is a good word in this situation that covers exactly what the landlord is trying to do. He even said that the carpets and paintwork were brand-new when I moved in and they now look old. Obviously, my deposit and I are not responsible for the passage of time and reasonable wear and tear. Perhaps its not the first time he has tried this scam.
Landlord being an asshole
He is trying to get his flat refurbished with your deposit!
As above deposit protection scheme assuming you have that!
Send a letter of intent to claim 100% of deposit PLUS all costs incurred, if full deposit is not returned in 5 working days!
Send it registered so you know he got it, copy agency if one was used!
There should also be part of the local council that deals with bad landlords … get them in the fight too
Sorry for your short timeline... reality is you'll never get through the bureaucracy before time runs out. If you're feeling spiteful - you may consider that you're also never going to face legal consequences should you choose to "act out" in any way that you find attractive/appropriate.
Thank you, that's not my way, but it does bother me that my next of kin, charities etc will lose out because of this guys greed. Considering the amount I doubt my executor or beneficiaries will want to pursue it.
I'm going to contact the deposit scheme today or Monday.
you forfeited the deposit— why are you concerned