A renter got in touch via the contact form
Hi,
I had a 12 month tenancy and gave notice two months before the end. The landlord said I should find a replacement to take over my room, which I did. The new tenant wanted to move in fast so I moved out at the end of the eleventh month (January). The new tenant moved in on the same day. But the landlord is not refunding the rent I paid in advance, nor is he refunding me my deposit. So he is receiving two rents for the one room.
I emailed him, and he sent me a long email essentially stating he will not be refunding any money. He’s refused to tell me where he protected my deposit. But I need my deposit back to get a new place.
Could you please let me know what I can do?
Without knowing what this landlord actually said in his long email, it’s hard to advise completely accurately. The landlord did not give you details of the scheme protecting your deposit within 30 days of the start of your tenancy. But the law says that he must. As you never received details from either scheme, I suspect that your deposit money was not protected. Now, you should contact both deposit protection schemes to find out for sure
Here are links to the relevant pages of the two schemes
>> https://www.tenancydepositscheme.com/is-my-deposit-protected/
>> https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/tenant/
If your deposit was not protected by either of the schemes, the landlord cannot make any deduction from it. Moreover, you are entitled to seek damages for failure to protect a deposit. The court would award damages at between one and three times the sum of your deposit.
You gave notice in line with the terms of your tenancy agreement. You were not under any obligation to find a replacement tenant. That was an unreasonable request by the landlord. But you found a replacement and the landlord accepted rent from that person. On the day the landlord accepted rent money from the new tenant, your tenancy had definitely ended. The landlord may not take two rents for the same room. You should get your money back.
When you receive word from the deposit protection schemes, write to the landlord. Say that, if he does not return your money within 10 working days, you will claim damages for his failure to protect your deposit, in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act 2004. Then state that you will also be seeking to recover all other monies owed to you as your tenancy ended on 31 January. Include the sum in question. End by asking him to confirm that he will return the total within 10 working days.
Hopefully, he will give you back what is due to you to avoid paying significantly more as a result of court action. But if he does not, do please take the matter to court.
ID: KNW
Do you know about the new rules around identification at polling stations? To be allowed to vote, you must show appropriate ID at the polling station in future.
Today, millions of people lack the required documentation. We must do all we can to ensure that mandatory ID does not result in Londoners being denied a say in who governs. All who don’t have another form of accepted photo ID can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
If you’re registered as an anonymous voter because having your name and address on the electoral register could affect your safety, or the safety or someone in your household, the Anonymous Elector’s document is for you.
The Electoral Reform Society has stated that
“Identification requirements risk undermining the principles of fair and equal participation that have been at the heart of British democracy since the adoption of universal, equal suffrage in 1928.”
Mindful of the serious risk to equality and democratic access, Renters’ Rights London is pleased to support the Greater London Authority campaign to spread the word about these new voter ID requirements.
Join the Renters’ Day of Action
On Tuesday 21 March, renters from all over UK are going to Parliament to demand that government bring bring forward the Renters’ Reform Bill. Since the Renters’ Reform Coalition was established in 2020, we’ve been trying to make sure that the reforms (still) ahead truly deliver. But this government has still not made good on the Conservative’s 2019 manifesto pledge to end ‘no fault’ evictions and reform private renting.
If we all stand together, we can change this. The Renters’ Reform Coalition Day of Action aims to pressure this government to end this crisis in renting,
As well as an opportunity to meet your MP and to hand in a petition at Downing Street, there will be housing advice, panel events and speakers, Refreshments will be provided.
Please join us on the Renters’ Day of Action?
Tuesday 21 March from 1pm until 5pm
Work with Just Space
Renters’ Rights London is proud to be one of at least 60 member organisations that form the Just Space Network. It’s a voice for Londoners at grass-roots level to improve public participation in planning, trying to ensure that policy is fair towards communities – in a system dominated by the interests of developers.
You might well remember news of the Just Space Community-Led Recovery Plan last April. As the Recovery Plan makes plain, everyone is affected by planning but the planning process is technical and often daunting for most of us, even though the issues themselves are readily understood: housing, green space, jobs, transport, pollution, and so on.
The Co-ordinator and Communications role is essential to the further development and future success of the Just Space Network. See full details and application form on the Just Space website and if it’s not right for you, do please pass it on to anyone and everyone you know who might be interested?