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Dear Sir,
We are in a dire situation in dealing with our previous landlord. We got in a flat a year ago through some agency but later managed by the landlord. The landlord didn't protect the deposit. After more than 6 months, with my repeated requests to the landlord to provide proof of deposit protection, the landlord did not respond. So, I sent him a formal letter asking him to protect the deposit within 14 days or provide deposit protection letter if already deposited. The letter came back saying the address does not exist!! Apparently, the address put down by the landlord in tenancy agreement is non-existent because he did not want to share his true address. When he came around to our house to collect his posts (yes his posts were still coming to us!), I managed to make an arrangement with him that if he could not protect my 1.5 months deposit, I would not pay last 1.5 months rent of my tenancy and he reluctantly agreed for that (stated in email).
Recently we had to move to another home and had to get a reference from him. He gave a false reference saying the flat had dampness and thus my letting agent could not progress with my tenancy application immediately. My letting agent gave few days to resolve the issue with my landlord. My landlord did not respond to my repeated requests to come home and have an inspection himself. It was a great mental stress to me and my wife about getting next home. I managed to let the tenancy agent know about all facts about my landlord and how the relationship got damaged because of the deposit protection. They took couple of weeks time to process my application by getting approvals from their top management and waiver from my new home landlord and finally allowed to go ahead. We finally moved to our new home after thoroughly cleaning the old flat. Please be mindful there was no inventory check for this one.
Now, the landlord is saying I had to pay for repair costs around £160. £100 for bathroom wall decor and £60 for sofa covers cleaning. But, I only agree to one sofa cover dry cleaning which is not more than £20 and bathroom wall decor is debatable as the wall is vulnerable to shower (tiles are only half up to the ceiling). I also asked him to sort out my negative reference which he gave to obstruct getting my next home. But, he is now saying if I don't pay he would pass the details to debt collectors. What is the right course of action for me now? How can I be liable for something if landlord just asks some repair costs? Can you please advise if I should be really concerned of the situation? Please enlighten me with my rights and how I should respond. Thanks very much in advance.
Terms of use -
landord - 'Previous landlord'
letting agent - 'Previous letting agent'
We are in a dire situation in dealing with our previous landlord. We got in a flat a year ago through some agency but later managed by the landlord. The landlord didn't protect the deposit. After more than 6 months, with my repeated requests to the landlord to provide proof of deposit protection, the landlord did not respond. So, I sent him a formal letter asking him to protect the deposit within 14 days or provide deposit protection letter if already deposited. The letter came back saying the address does not exist!! Apparently, the address put down by the landlord in tenancy agreement is non-existent because he did not want to share his true address. When he came around to our house to collect his posts (yes his posts were still coming to us!), I managed to make an arrangement with him that if he could not protect my 1.5 months deposit, I would not pay last 1.5 months rent of my tenancy and he reluctantly agreed for that (stated in email).
Recently we had to move to another home and had to get a reference from him. He gave a false reference saying the flat had dampness and thus my letting agent could not progress with my tenancy application immediately. My letting agent gave few days to resolve the issue with my landlord. My landlord did not respond to my repeated requests to come home and have an inspection himself. It was a great mental stress to me and my wife about getting next home. I managed to let the tenancy agent know about all facts about my landlord and how the relationship got damaged because of the deposit protection. They took couple of weeks time to process my application by getting approvals from their top management and waiver from my new home landlord and finally allowed to go ahead. We finally moved to our new home after thoroughly cleaning the old flat. Please be mindful there was no inventory check for this one.
Now, the landlord is saying I had to pay for repair costs around £160. £100 for bathroom wall decor and £60 for sofa covers cleaning. But, I only agree to one sofa cover dry cleaning which is not more than £20 and bathroom wall decor is debatable as the wall is vulnerable to shower (tiles are only half up to the ceiling). I also asked him to sort out my negative reference which he gave to obstruct getting my next home. But, he is now saying if I don't pay he would pass the details to debt collectors. What is the right course of action for me now? How can I be liable for something if landlord just asks some repair costs? Can you please advise if I should be really concerned of the situation? Please enlighten me with my rights and how I should respond. Thanks very much in advance.
Terms of use -
landord - 'Previous landlord'
letting agent - 'Previous letting agent'
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