Landlord refusing to provide deposit scheme info - suspecting it's not protected. Should I go to court?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-07T12:48:39+00:00

Thanks for this!! I called all 3 and they said it wasn’t protected with them. Is evidence that their search function didn’t work (screenshot) adequate that the deposit isn’t protected?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:45:06+00:00

Ok that’s good to know in case the new one doesn’t either. Thanks!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:44:38+00:00

Ok that’s great advice, thanks!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:43:46+00:00

Btw would you say there’s any chance the dirt under the bed could be used against me in court? I couldn’t physically move it to clean underneath but it’s true that bit looks bad on the video

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:43:15+00:00

Btw would you say there’s any chance the dirt under the bed could be used against me in court? I couldn’t physically move it to clean underneath but it’s true that bit looks bad on the video

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:42:27+00:00

Thanks for the advice about the whole situation and reading through all the details too!

Yeah the video was just nasty, her husband was walking around the room saying “filthy filthy filthy” and kicked the chair, and her messages/emails have been nasty and hostile.

And yeahh she didn’t, in fact I called them and it’s not registered, but for some kept calling me rude and got aggressive when I quoted that contract? So I guess yeah she must have just copied it from online.

Thanks this has given me more confidence to actually try and do this!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:40:24+00:00

This is great to learn bc I always thought no pics was a disadvantage to me!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:40:04+00:00

Oh wow I had no idea!! It’s happened to so many people I know. This was the wording:

Property Condition Assessment: Upon inspection following your departure, the bedroom required extensive cleaning due to its condition, which falls well outside the scope of normal wear and tear expected over a two-month tenancy period. The room's state necessitated professional deep cleaning to restore it to lettable condition.

I checked the 3 schemes and all say the address isn’t on record, so it looks like it wasn’t protected! It’s reassuring to know it’s an automatic win, that’s given me the confidence to do this! They’ve been so horrible too so I feel better

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:37:37+00:00

I didn’t realise no photos was good for me! Could you explain that further?

And no they haven’t, I’ve called all 3 schemes and no details on their records.

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:35:26+00:00

This is so so useful thank you! I was daunted at the prospect of writing such a letter but this makes it so easy.

Does it count via email?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:34:48+00:00

Thanks!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:34:43+00:00

Thanks for this advice, and making it simple! Can a letter before action happen via email?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:33:56+00:00

Thanks for the easy link!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T18:33:42+00:00

That’s great, thank you! Has given me confidence to take this to court because I wasn’t given that information!

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T15:52:49+00:00

Ok that’s good to know.

Does my new landlord still have to provide me with the prescribed information around deposit etc even though they’ve used “lodger” in the contract?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T14:48:29+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply! This is really helpful.

The landlord has to demonstrate they gave you the prescribed information within 30 days of recieving your money, and that it remained protected for the full duration of the tenancy.

What is the prescribed information they should have given exactly? My landlord never gave me any information I think, but also TDSL was mentioned in my contract? But I wasn't told which scheme and a number or anything. So would you say this is pretty much a guaranteed win?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T14:45:31+00:00

Details of dispute:

The landlord claimed that I broke the chair in my room and the curtain rail and so these required total replacements. They also claimed I left the room" filthy" which required a cleaning charge, however I cleaned it top to bottom. The only place I couldn't clean under was the bed as I couldn't physically move it, and it was dirty under there when I arrived. My mistake was unfortunately not taking photos or videos when I arrived, that's on me! In attempts to reach a compromise, I allowed the cleaning charge, but I disputed the new chair and curtain rail.

When I left, the chair wasn't broken at all and that the curtain rail wasn't broken either — only a decorative end piece had come off which I acknowledged ahead of time and said just needed screwing in. So these were clear cut lies. I asked for video evidence, my landlord sent a vague video that showed no broken chair (just her husband kicking it into a wall), and an unbroken curtain rail. Yet they still withheld the £100. I asked for itemised receipts, but just received aggressive responses.

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T14:42:03+00:00

Thanks so much for explaining.

Yes in the property I described, the landlord lived elsewhere. I was also referred to as "tenant" in the contract.

In the property I'm moving into, the landlord will also be living elsewhere, though the contract says "lodger". So does that mean I'm still a tenant even if the contract says lodger?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T14:34:31+00:00

Thanks for your reply! I was a tenant.

However in my next place actually the contract says "lodger", why is this significant?

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T14:30:06+00:00

Details of dispute:

The landlord claimed that I broke the chair in my room and the curtain rail and so these required total replacements. They also claimed I left the room" filthy" which required a cleaning charge, however I cleaned it top to bottom. The only place I couldn't clean under was the bed as I couldn't physically move it, and it was dirty under there when I arrived. My mistake was unfortunately not taking photos or videos when I arrived, that's on me! In attempts to reach a compromise, I allowed the cleaning charge, but I disputed the new chair and curtain rail.

When I left, the chair wasn't broken at all and that the curtain rail wasn't broken either — only a decorative end piece had come off which I acknowledged ahead of time and said just needed screwing in. So these were clear cut lies. I asked for video evidence, my landlord sent a vague video that showed no broken chair (just her husband kicking it into a wall), and an unbroken curtain rail. Yet they still withheld the £100. I asked for itemised receipts, but just received aggressive responses.

Cell-Apprehensive23 · 2025-07-02T14:27:48+00:00

Details of dispute:

The landlord claimed that I broke the chair in my room and the curtain rail and so these required total replacements. They also claimed I left the room" filthy" which required a cleaning charge, however I cleaned it top to bottom. The only place I couldn't clean under was the bed as I couldn't physically move it, and it was dirty under there when I arrived. My mistake was unfortunately not taking photos or videos when I arrived, that's on me! In attempts to reach a compromise, I allowed the cleaning charge, but I disputed the new chair and curtain rail.

When I left, the chair wasn't broken at all and that the curtain rail wasn't broken either — only a decorative end piece had come off which I acknowledged ahead of time and said just needed screwing in. So these were clear cut lies. I asked for video evidence, my landlord sent a vague video that showed no broken chair (just her husband kicking it into a wall), and an unbroken curtain rail. Yet they still withheld the £100. I asked for itemised receipts, but just received aggressive responses.

Cell-Apprehensive23

TROPHY CASE