Irrelevant deposit question – Completing N5B form?
Hi, I am trying to complete an N5B form and struggling to answer a question. At the beginning of the tenancy, I never took a deposit from the tenant so there is nothing to return and no scheme requirement.
Question 12 asks “was a deposit paid in connection with the current tenancy or any prior tenancy of the property to which the Defendant was a party?” to which I have replied No.
Question 13 then asks “Has the deposit been returned to the Defendant (or the person – if not the Defendant – who paid the deposit)?”
How do I reply to this question as obviously neither yes or no is relevant?
Many thanks
Colin
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Member Since September 2021 - Comments: 7
4:02 PM, 30th May 2022, About 4 years ago
I have just been through this, same situation with no deposit. I just left Q13 blank, as no answer was required due to No Deposit.
The judge awarded possession in my case.
Hope this helps
Member Since September 2021 - Comments: 213
5:12 PM, 31st May 2022, About 4 years ago
The correct answer in such cases is “N/A” or ” Not Applicable.”
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3248 - Articles: 81
10:18 AM, 4th June 2022, About 4 years ago
This is my bug bear. I’m constantly telling these bafoon’s in Councils & Govt & organisations:
Have u actually gone through the form with a Joe Bloggs on Ground leverl?
Sat over his/her shoulder while they’ve done it & listened to their frustrations?
I bet they’ve had thousands of calls on this & not told the web/form designer who could change it in 10 minutes.
Member Since May 2022 - Comments: 170
6:55 AM, 8th June 2022, About 4 years ago
The really bizarre thing about the deposit questions is that question 14 makes it clear that you have to have replied ‘yes’ to question 12 for it to apply…why would you have it for one and not the other? Either you know that it makes sense (which is does) to make the opening statement about the earlier answer to question 12 or it doesnt. Why say it in one and not the other…
Member Since September 2021 - Comments: 213
4:39 PM, 8th June 2022, About 4 years ago
It occurs to me that when I studied Logic, particularly binary logic, the answer to question 13 is “No.”
Example: the answer to the question: “have you stopped beating your wife?” is “No.”