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
13 comments on this article
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Tenant has taken carpet, blinds and lampshades!
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 26
1:48 PM, 18th March 2024, About 3 years ago
As other have aid go with an insured deposit
https://www.depositprotection.com/agents-landlords/starting-a-tenancy/custodial-vs-insured
Also now with interest rates higher you wil earn more interest on a 1k deposit in 1 year than the cost of the insured scheme
Just make sure that your lease says that the landlord keeps any interest earned on the deposit and that no interest will be paid to the tenant
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 4
4:22 PM, 18th March 2024, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by James Sim at 15/03/2024 – 11:32
Hi, I agree, it is a huge hoax and bit by bit I’m moving away from DPS because they are just too biased for the tenant. I don’t know of TDS is any better?
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 4
4:24 PM, 18th March 2024, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Susan Robinson at 15/03/2024 – 11:36
Thank you I do understand where you are coming from, but she was very careful not to tell anyone where she was going to be living apart from with some chap in Sheffield. Even if the council knew, would they be allowed to tell me under data protection regulations?