Just to update you all. I went to court today after a very long drawn out process. I won!!! I got my deposit AND compensation. So you can get the compensation if you go through small claims route Its been a very stressful year but worth it in the end...well providing she pays up

Just a quick question. when I signed my last contract my landlady took it away to sign and get her signature witnessed. I did not receive this contract until after my tenancy ended. we are now in dispute over the deposit and she is using the contract as her evidence that I was in breach of it. When I received it I noticed there was a witness signature against my name. However, I did not sign it in the presence of anybody. I know that a tenancy agreement does not HAVE to be witnessed,but does the presence of a false witness now invalidate that contract? My deposit was not protected so it may be a mute point but wish to clarify this point as she seems to using the contract to prove I was a bad tenant and withholding my deposit on those grounds. ( plus many many more)

Just re-read this,it was my understanding that she could pay compensation of between 1 and 3 times the amount if I go through scc? Is that not the case then? CAB seem sure that she could.

Thank you, that was my understanding but wasn't entirely sure. I have pointed out legislation throughout my correspondence with her and she keeps bringing things up that arn't relevant. In my letter before action it stated that she may be fines between 1 and 3 times the amount of the deposit. I am hoping this wil lbe enough to make her pay up but by the letters I have had from her I dont think she will and I can see this going all the way to court.

yes there was but it was never used for any inspection or at the end of the tenancy. It was 11 days after the final inspection that I messages her about the deposit scheme and it was only then she claimed damage etc. It has been a very stressful few months.

Thank you. It was their template letter before action I used. But now I have got to this stage I am losing confidence. Is relying on the fact she did not protect my deposit enough? I cant prove I didnt damage the things she claims I did even though I know I didnt. I am only agreeing to a few minor items, like a shaving mirror that I had genuinely forgotten to replace. she is claiming I did a lot of major damage. I know these to be lies. But I will go back to the shelter website to see what else I can find.

This is complicated so I will try and make it as simple as possible. My landlady is holding my deposit and every time I answer her questions she changes the reason for withholding it. Firstly I have had confirmation from all 3 schemes that she did not protect my deposit. And my issue may come down to this in the end but I need some advice as I am taking her to small claims court and don't want any surprises once there. She gave me 2 months notice but after 1 week was pressuring me for a date as she wanted to move back into the property. I found somewhere quickly and moved out after 1 month. She claims I owe her that last month's rent as I am contracted to pay it even though she moved in. In effect she expects me to pay for her to live there for a month. Then she changed her reason due to bad cleaning, decoration and damage. Even though she told me not to worry about getting it professionally cleaned, that she was going to decorate throughout any way and all items she claims were damaged are either lies or not on the inventory. I have text evidence for all of this! Now she is saying she needs proof that ALL utilities and loans I had at that address are paid up to date before reconsidering. I told her all utilities are my responsibility and that she cannot withhold my deposit for those reasons and she has now gone back to damage and cleaning/decorating. I have sent her a letter before action for the full amount of my deposit but I dont think she has the money! My next step is to prepare a case to take to court. Do I need to worry about any of this or is the fact she didn't protect it enough? I should also say that we inspected the property together and she raised no issue. She gave me NO opportunity to correct the alleged cleaning issues etc and sent me a fake invoice ( or at least a highly dodgy one) for works she claims she had to carry out. The first I heard of any problem was 11 days after I moved out and after I asked her what scheme my deposit was in. Any advice would be more than welcome.I hope this isn't too complicated there are many many more issues but I condensed it down as much as possible! Thank you!