Over 80 days to reclaim deposit?

After a year of waiting for legal repossession, I have up to another 80 + days before I can access the deposit!

DPS, 14 days before the tenant, who has disappeared does not reply, + 1 week to find a solicitor who will witness the signing of the statutory declaration (17 solicitors declined to offer this service – Why ?)

Another 14 + 10 days while the uncontactable tenant does not reply to the DPS, one hopes so deposit can be returned after 45 days if the tenant remains uncontactable; 6 weeks of council tax and unpaid utilities waiting for a no-show.

Worse, if the tenant does appear after 42 days and contests, then another 14 days to provide evidence, another 28 days for adjudication so now we are at day 87 for a resolution. By this time, there isn’t any deposit left after paying nearly 3 months of council tax etc.

Is the government kidding?

While I fully appreciate a tenant has the right to reclaim a deposit, these time scales and delays are absolutely ridiculous in this modern age of superspeed communication and internet, and increased financial pressure from local councils.

Marita