Had a CCJ demanding 3 times the deposit

Had a CCJ demanding 3 times the deposit

10:27 AM, 13th December 2014, About 10 years ago 73

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Stupidly, and I mean very stupidly, did not put a tenants deposit in a deposit protection scheme. Had a CCJ demanding 3 times the deposit

They have just told me they are emigrating to Australia and have said in an mail that they are not going to be paying the last months rent. Now to top it off they have issued a CCJ demanding three times the deposit plus £105 for court costs.

They are also refusing me entry.

Up until now we have had a good relationship but they are totally exploiting the situation for monetary gain.

Do I have any rights or have I blown them all out the window by not putting the deposit in a scheme?

I used to use a letting agent but the tenant and myself decided to do it between ourselves.

We couldn’t agree on a contract so we verbally said what we wanted, I wanted 2-3 months notice but they have only give me one and that is not in writing.

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions.

Regards

Steve Morton


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Comments

Philip Savva

17:35 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Exactly! In agreerance with Alan, I stopped taking deposits over twelve months ago, I charge an admin fee, no deposit protection to worry about or costs to protect it, hassle 0%

Alan Loughlin

17:40 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

and money already in the bank. ha ha

Steve Morton

17:52 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mary Latham" at "17/12/2014 - 15:07":

Im sorry Mary
I am on the defensive side at the moment and should have not got personal
all advice is good advice and really at the end of the day you are right ....i just don't want to hear it because in my eyes i have been a good landlord to these people and although you do not know me if you did you would understand, i like i said offered to get their deposit in cash to make it easier for them
again apologies

Philip Savva

17:55 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Absolutely ££ lol!

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

18:23 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Steve Morton" at "17/12/2014 - 17:52":

Hi Steve

Good call to apologise to Mary, I think that says a lot about the person you really are.
.

Mary Latham

18:35 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Steve Morton" at "17/12/2014 - 17:52":

Thank you for your apology Steve.

Believe me I do understand how you feel I have made myself ill over bad tenants and have written off thousands of pounds for a quiet life including £1900 in rent arrears and paying for a removal van to help a family to move on only to be left with 3 days cleaning and redecorating!! I felt very misused but in the end I got my property back and re-let it at an increased rent to tenants who have now been there for over 3 years and they are great tenants - perhaps Karma?

I don't think you can win this one and this is why I suggested that you pay them and move on. They may accept 1/2 the deposit back and let off with the last months rent - I am not the only person who likes a quiet life and they may consider themselves lucky? It's not fair but it could make it go away without stress unless you like stress?

In the end only you can decide and all the key board warriors will not be spoiling their Christmas whatever you do, and I wish you luck. Maybe others have learned by reading about your mistake - this is what makes these discussions worthwhile.

By the way I became a landlord aged 20 so I am not really ready to retire just yet and if I were, I have worked to hard and for too long, to settle for "a little caravan near the coast" and I've already got a lovely holiday home in Dartmouth, Devon - paid for by my many good tenants who have made up for the few bad ones. They will all be in the next book hahahaha

Steve Morton

21:13 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mary Latham" at "17/12/2014 - 18:35":

Thanks Mary
and thanks to everyone else all the replies and comments have been very helpful, i have offered the tennants a without prejudice offer of 1.5 times the deposit if they do not accept i will put the few points to the judge and offer the same and what will be will be,
i am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best i have had plenty of profit over the 7 years but lesson learnt when we re-rent we will go through a letting agent to do it correctly because half the problem is we do not have time,
we were going to get rid of but have changed our minds it is a good investment and I'm not going to throw it away just because of one incident (ebeit a costly one)
so once again thank you everyone for your comments
and like Mary said i hope someone else can benefit from my mistakes by reading these comments posted here

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

21:18 PM, 17th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Steve Morton" at "17/12/2014 - 21:13":

Hi Steve

When the time comes to re-let, please check out the company that I was so impressed with that I decide to invest into.

See >>> http://www.property118.com/letting-supermarket-amend-pricing/68829/
.

Steve Morton

17:12 PM, 18th December 2014, About 9 years ago

Thanks Mark ill do that

DC

18:08 PM, 18th December 2014, About 9 years ago

I have read everything that all have said and have to say that I totally agree with all that Mary Latham has posted. Complying with legislation and being honest pays in the end.

Steve Morton, we all feel for you and similar things can happen to any of us due to the complexities of the law when becoming a landlord. Good luck with your offer and Court proceedings if it comes to that.

Mark Alexander, caught speeding twice in a matter of months!! You should have your licence ripped up and banned from driving for life. Whatever next? Also consider Specsavers!

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