If a landlord is withholding your tenancy deposit without providing valid reason and has not protected it using the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme, you may have grounds for a compensation claim. For more advice and legal support, feel free to contact our team today.
Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme
If you rent a property in the UK, you will often be asked to provide a deposit. This is usually 4 to 5 weeks’ rent. If a landlord requests more than this amount, they may be acting illegally, and you should seek legal advice. If you decide to move out of the property, or your tenancy agreement comes to an end, you will get the tenancy deposit back, as long as the property and any furnishings are in the same condition as you moved in. Should there be any damages or repair work that needs to be carried out, the landlord can subtract this fee from the tenancy deposit, and give you the remaining amount. The tenancy deposit can also be used should the tenant fail to pay rent.
However, all landlords and letting agents must put the deposit in a tenancy deposit scheme. The landlord must give you written information about the scheme they use, and if the landlord has not put the deposit in a tenancy deposit scheme, you may be able to take legal action against them. Tenancy deposit scheme disputes can claim back up to 3 times the original amount in the form of compensation.
Returning A Deposit
At the end of a tenancy, the landlord must give you the deposit back within 10 days of agreeing to the amount in which you’ll get back. However, should you disagree with the amount the landlord wants to take to cover any repair work or damages, the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme acts as a mediator and can help resolve such issues. You should contact our team today if you find out that the landlord has not used a tenancy deposit scheme.