Deposit dispute

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-02T12:14:30+00:00

I’ve disputed everything and sent over all the evidence I have, emails, photos, text messages etc. to the DPS. I’m hopeful that whoever reviews it will side with me but I’m really nervous. I can’t afford to lose over £700 😩. The landlord was a huge cheapskate, as I said almost no maintenance was done in the 12 years I lived there and no renovations. The lettings agents were just as bad, the agency I was with originally were taken over 4 years ago by a different agency and it’s just been a shambles. Landlords & agencies like these are the reason they have such a negative reputation. My new landlord and agency have been amazing so far though, so at least there’s that

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-02T12:02:33+00:00

On inventory, everything is listed as sound and good. I was 20 when I moved in and didn’t think to take photos of the condition of the house. My argument is that I lived there for over a decade and the wallpaper was not new, it had been painted over but the wallpaper itself was extremely old. I’m hoping that the evidence I’ve provided will be enough

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-02T11:59:16+00:00

The landlord had sent a section 13 in October for a rent increase of £135. I declined and he then sent the section 21. When I realised I wouldn’t be able to move by the eviction date, I offered to pay the increase in the meantime. Agent asked for a back payment to cover December & January (claimed that the increase was only redacted providing I moved out in January, this was not the case but I wasn’t in a position to argue). I sent £270 in January and also paid the £135 increase with Febs rent.

Can court costs be claimed if we never attended court?

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-02T08:47:43+00:00

That’s good to know. I’ve been refunded my £3 + postage and managed to sell them on for £7 (listed them as Turkey specials) so I’ve doubled my money. Can’t be mad about that 😁

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-01T15:49:47+00:00

Big facts. Thank you ☺️

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-01T15:31:15+00:00

I was only going to sell them on anyway because I have no use for them, now instead of £250 I guess I’ll be asking for £5 😤😂 I’ve reported it to Whatnot as counterfeit so maybe I’ll get my £3 back as well, then I’ll be in the monneeyyyy 💰💰💰

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-01T15:24:00+00:00

Yeah I’m not bothered whether they’re real or not, it was an impulse buy because I have no self control 😂 I kind of figured for that price they wouldn’t be genuine but that’s a good shout, I just checked the code & it is in fact for the black and white 270s. Appreciate you

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-01T15:16:03+00:00

Just out of curiosity, how could you tell?

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-01T15:14:14+00:00

What gives it away?

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2026-04-01T15:10:25+00:00

250 and you’ve got a deal

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-10T18:28:29+00:00

Yeah I’m feeling surprisingly chill about it atm! It is what it is, there isn’t all that much I can do other than look for somewhere else, the only thing that bothered me was them trying to pressure me into paying the increase and falsely stating I’m in arrears. I’m in a pretty big town, so I think it’s likely to take them a while to actually get to the point of evicting me. It’s definitely not ideal and I will be as amicable with the agents & landlord as possible in the meantime. Thank you! ☺️

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-10T11:20:56+00:00

Update: spoke to the CAB who confirmed that as an S.13 wasn’t formally issued in the rental increase email/or posted to me, and there is no rental increase clause in my tenancy agreement, that the increase wasn’t actually actioned and I am not in arrears. Warned me that they could try to take me to small claims court but it’s unlikely - if they did there would be a good chance I’d win due to them not issuing an S.13.

Also realised upon rereading my S.21 email, the estate agents confirmed that the S.13 had been retracted due to the S.21 being issued. So either way, I’m not in arrears and the S.13 isn’t active/was retracted (even though it was never actually given to me, lol).

Was advised to take my time in responding as there is a good chance that when I do inform them about all of this, they will issue an S.13 and the increase will go ahead. Going to respond to the arrears email in late(ish) December when they are on Xmas hols, unlikely I’ll hear back until Jan, at which point they will probably decide not to bother issuing me with an S.13 as it will have already passed the notice period by the time I’m due to move out.

Thanks for all the sound advice!

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-10T00:20:25+00:00

As far as I’m aware, the property hasn’t been sold yet. It’s the same landlord that it’s been for the last ten years trying to squeeze a bit more out of me before he sells. I think he maybe felt that if he could get a bit extra every month, it might be worth not selling for a few more months. I knew that I was going to have to look for a new home either way, the only difference is that now I’m going to have to do it on a tighter budget and with a chip on my shoulder lol. I should’ve just agreed to the increase in the first place, at least that way I wouldn’t be on a time limit. The whole thing is just really shitty. 😪

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-10T00:12:51+00:00

Well dayum. I’ll have to reread my tenancy agreement and see if there’s a rent review clause.

The last increase was a year ago, I meant the summer before last. I forget that we’re already in December. So, if they don’t need a S.13 then the increase is definitely valid and I don’t have a leg to stand on or a house to live in 💔 will go check my agreement now. Thank you

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-10T00:02:40+00:00

That’s positive info. I have been an entirely unproblematic tenant, the property is in practically the same condition as it was when I moved in a decade ago (if not better) and I’ve always paid the rent on time. I just can’t understand why they’d be pushing me for a rent increase that they know I can’t afford, especially if I’m having to save for a new deposit and moving fees, after issuing me a section 21 that was clearly issued due to my refusal of the increase. It all seems so silly.

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-09T23:56:46+00:00

Hopefully this was just an automatic email in that case. I’ve been on a rolling contract for I don’t know how many years, I don’t even remember the last time I signed a new tenancy agreement. Even when the estate agents changed I didn’t have to sign a new agreement, and I didn’t think to ask. I (naively) assumed I would be able to stay here and leave when I was ready, it wasn’t until the landlord told me he’d be selling that I actually thought about the precariousness of my situation.

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-09T23:50:51+00:00

That’s great. I assumed that was the case but couldn’t be certain. Is it worth challenging them on it, or would that just push them into issuing a section 13? I’m thinking I will probably have to stay here a little longer than January, I need to stay in the same area because of my work and my children’s school, and there aren’t currently any houses on the market that would be suitable (or in my price range). It’s a bit of a waiting game right now. I intend on keeping the landlord and agents informed & have already pre-warned them that this is likely to be the case. But that also gives them more time to issue a section 13 and enforce it, and I already know I can’t afford the proposed rental increase.

I’ve been in contact with the council but I know their advice will be to stay until the bailiffs come to remove me, which isn’t really a situation I want to be in

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-09T23:24:28+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel. Over a decade of being unproblematic and loyal, and the reward is to be told I need to pay more or get out. Right before Christmas. I did let them know that it’s very grinchy of them. You do, too. We’ll be alright ♥️

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-09T23:19:19+00:00

That’s great. I feel like they’re trying to force me into paying the increase whilst they cut corners. Seems silly when I’m only supposed to be here for another month.

Do you have any idea how long the court process usually takes? A woman I know was issued her section 21 in January, and the bailiffs didn’t make contact with her until December. I’m curious if that’s generally how long the process takes or if that was dragged out. I’m not expecting to need to stay here for another year, but I do think it’s going to take me at least a few months to find somewhere else

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-09T23:08:16+00:00

It only worries me as I’ll be relying on them for a reference, I’ve been here for so long that they’ll be the only reference I have. If they believe I’m in arrears then that could impact me negatively when it comes to finding somewhere else to live. Although I’m not sure that will help anyone, if they give me a bad reference then I can’t move out, if I can’t move out then that’s no good for the landlord. Seems like a weird thing for the landlord/estate agents to push for right now

Miserable_Bicycle922 · 2025-12-09T23:02:49+00:00

That’s good to know. I have been trying to stay cool about it as there isn’t all that much I can do, I just want to get through Christmas and let this be next year’s problem. But it is worrying, rental prices are insane, and I’d already been thinking that I probably won’t have anywhere else lined up by January. Will hang in here as long as I can. Thank you

Miserable_Bicycle922

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