Landlord has run off with my deposit

[redman693]

Hi

I was informed yesterday that my letting agent has been reported to the police for 'financial irregularites' it turns out he has been stealing the deposits of tennants and not paying landlords the rent. due to this he is now closed down and all the properties have been moved over to another franchise in the same organisation. After speaking to the new letting agents he told me that my depsit was one of the ones stolen and advised me to cancel the standing order for the rent. The tennacy agreement runs out at the end of this month and we have not renewed it as we were keen to move anyway before all this happened. My question is where do i stand legally if i cancel the standing order and stay for an extra month to reclaim what would have been my deposit and then move on at the end of april? i know it sounds quite immoral but i wont be able to move house without the deposit back from where i'm living now.
HELP!!!

thanks
Paul

[Mochamoo]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

How long have you lived there? Your deposit should have been in the gov deposit scheme to protect it against this.

I would think that your landlord is liable for this and his insurance should cover his/her losses, and you should still get your deposit back.

Who exactly advised you to cancel the standing order? Why did the 'new' letting agent advise you only to cancel the standing order why have they not made other arragements for you to pay your rent. It all still sounds rather dodgy.

Have you had any thing in writing?

JMHO I think you need more information and you need to get it in writing.

[Guest]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

From 6 April 2007, all deposits (for rent up to £25,000 per annum) taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales, must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme.

This means that your deposit should be protected and you should get all or part of your deposit back.

Look here for more details - Tenancy Deposit : Directgov

[redman693]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

The new letting agent told me that my deposit hadn't been protected by the scheme as we've lived there for over two years now and our was one of the deposits that the landlord had taken. Apparently the landlord has done a runner and nobody can get hold of him and as he was a franchise of belvoir i doubt that clamng any kind of insurance will be applicable. i also have not had anything in writing regarding this, just the conversation i had with the new belvior man and the notice which was on the door of the letting agent saying that he was being investigated. it all sounds quite dodgy to me

[Mochamoo]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

itsy bit confzulled.

that my letting agent has been reported to the police for 'financial irregularites' it turns out he has been stealing the deposits of tennants and not paying landlords the rent.

Apparently the landlord has done a runner and nobody can get hold of him

Who has legged it with your money?

[WendyB]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

Well, if the letting agent has done a runner, then you should certainly cancel your standing order, obviously you don't want to be paying any more money into his account for him to run off with. If the landlord has done a runner, then why would you be paying him anyway?

Although if the landlord had done a runner, then surely the letting agent wouldn't be handling his lettings anyway? So presumably its the letting agent that's legged it.

Does anyone know how much you actually owe on your rent? Apart from you, that is?

[redman693]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

Its the letting agent who's done a runner, he had a belvoir franchise and now he's off the scene another belvoir franchise in a different area has taken on the properties. they did however, tell me that it was very unlikely that i would get my deposit back which is why i am considering taking matters into my own hands. I have never spoke to or had any dealings with the landlord as belvoir managed the property. In view of the fact that my contract will in effect run out in a few days I guess i'm under no obligation to pay any futher money to the new letting agent and if i stay here for another month i'll technically be a squatter. just wanted a bit of reassurance about whether what i'm doing is the right thing (by right i mean sensible)

[ROBSTER]

Re: Landlord has run off with my deposit

This is my opinion and I am no expert in this area you should certainly seek the advice of solicitor or the Citizens Advice Bureau

Why would the Property Owner go back to the same bunch whose agent had committed a crime against him/her? The agent has no contract with you under these circumstances after all if they did they would have your deposit wouldn’t they.

Try contacting the property owner who may have some clause in his insurance for such crime (ask for the crime reference number from the Police) and can help out. You should cancel all standing orders and arrange with the owner to leave the property once the rent and bond/deposit are expired i.e. you leave on the day your landlord owes you no money (on paper). Yes it means staying on a bit but you will be saving money on your next property or you can strike a new deal if you change your mind on your existing property as if you were a new occupier.

Good luck