Disputing landlord charges - trying to bypass DPS

[RhubarbCustard]

Moved out of a 5 bedroom property at the end of June LL is requesting payment for final utility bills but refuses to provide copies of the bills so the amounts can be verified unless I pay them a £25 charge.

 

They're also alleging damage and cleaning charges against myself and the other tenants but again beyond listing a few items has provided no evidence, or any invoices, receipts etc including charges for their own time and petrol. They claim they cleaned the property themselves. The wording makes out that they are doing myself and the other tenants a favour by not charging us how much it is costing to them but don't actually specify how much it is costing.

 

They also don't seem to wish to go via the DPS as they demand payment to be made immediately without proof and then we will receive our full deposits back.

 

Private student accommodation - 5 people. Separate contracts, separate deposits. No inventory taken and no checkout list provided.

 

After disputing the damages without evidence provided they are now attempting to levy £25 admin fee's on top.

Edited July 19, 2013 by RhubarbCustard

[Steve__M]

It might be worth explaining what the tenancy situation was.

 

It sounds like you were 5 people all with separate contracts in a shared house?

 

But did you have separate deposits?

 

The LL cannot arbitrarily charge admin fees if they were not agreed any more than you can charge fees if LL doesn't fulfil any parts of the contract.

[RhubarbCustard]

It was a private student accommodation with 5 people sharing. The tenancy agreements were separate "Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement's" deposits were also taken separately and individually and lodged with the DPS. It's a fairly standard agreement. Again no inventory was taken or signed for and the LL failed to collect their copy of the contract from me which I realised today after going through my documents and receipts to dig it out.

[raydetinu]

As tenancy has ended then claim deposit back from dps direct. they will contact LL about any deductions ( fair and reasonable ) which you can dispute and then either use the ADR service or take LL to court.