I have a question that a number of hours googling has not answered. The short version is how do I go about suing my ex landlord for 1-3 times the deposit? Is it the small claims court or something else? OK, the long version. I rented a place for 18 months. I moved out last month. The landlord assured me that my deposit (£1250) was protected but refused to give me details of where. We left the place better than we received it. He then started saying how he was going to deduct £600 for decorating, £250 for steam cleaning the curtains and a few other things. After a few more requests for where my deposit was protected, and more evasive answers, I reminded him he had a legal obligation to have protected my deposit and I wanted arbitration. He registered my deposit the next day and a few days later I get confirmation of this. Not being happy I write him an intent of action letter. He responds by returning my full deposit (note, this was not an option given in the letter). During the last month he has shown the exact kind of behaviors that you would expect from a "dodgy landlord", i.e. the kind of person the law was intending to prevent. I have documented proof (SMS log) of Lies Evasion Intimidation Grossly overinflated costs Threats of violence Claiming I was responsible for utility bills for the period between me leaving and the next tenant moving in. I feel is it my civic duty to take this to court, to protect his other other tenants if nothing else, but I am not entirely sure how. The stickies in this thread are mostly pre-May 2012, where once you moved out you were helpless and if you stayed, a landlord could simply protect your deposit, end of story. All other advice is "sue to get your deposit back, and some fine", but I have my deposit back. So, whats my next step? Can I use the small claims court to claim for £3750 (deposit x 3) and let the judge amend it as required? Or do I need a solicitor and file an N208 form? Hopefully someone can point me to the next step. Cheers -- VB

Hello, iv just currently finished my 12 month contract with my landlord along with 4 other university students. Three of them are continuing to live there for another 12 months and myself and one other are leaving. I contacted my landlord regarding the deposit which was £2475 (£495 each) and he told me that we were in arrears amounting to £500 for about 6 weeks and that he is charging £390 out of each our deposits (£13 per tenant per week of the late payment so thats £65 a week) I thought this was abit excessive and unfair considering i have paid all my rent on time. when i challenged him on where the deposit was lodged he seemed uneasy and avoided the question on several occassions, before saying it was lodged with himself under the landlords association. After abit fo research i understand this is not possible. The contract states he was suppose to have lodged the deposit under mydesposits.co.uk however after checking it seems he hasnt lodged it. My landlord has sent a cheque in the post of £400 .. however not the full £495. Also i feel it is important to state that my housemate who deals with paying the landlord has stated that we are not in arears and he has bank statements to support this, also when i rung him again he changed the amount we owe to 220 so it all sounds abit dodgy to me. I think he will end up paying the full deposit to me however im abit peed off that hes tried to con me as im a student and as such dont know whether i should pursue a claim to sue him for 3x as much . WHAT SHOULD I DO? THANKS