Getting my Deposit Back
I'm having problems getting my deposit back for the London flat I rented up until December last year. It's probably because I've moved to the US, so I haven't chased them as forcefully as I would normally do. Hopefully you guys can help me with some answers, so I can get my money back.
Letting Agent
The letting agents hold the deposit. The last thing they said is that they were waiting for instructions from the landlord.
1. Is there a limit for how long the letting agent can wait for the landlord's instructions? What happens if the landlord just keeps prevaricating for months or years?
Cost of Redecorating
In the bedroom there was a grease stain from an accident with a lotion bottle. I pointed that out at the walk-through. On the protocol it says that money will be taken from the deposit to fix that. I'm fine with that, as long as the sum taken is reasonable but I'm not sure what's reasonable.
The wallpaper in the bedroom was very fancy but also getting pretty old. The flat (and the wallpaper) was about 11 years old when I left. I'd been there for 6 years myself. The wallpaper was one type up to about head-height, then there was a border and on top of the border was another type of wallpaper. The bedroom was very small, just barely big enough to fit a queen-size bed and a nightstand.
2. How much would it cost to re-do the fancy wallpapering with two different wallpapers and a border?
3. How much would it cost to simply paint over the wallpaper? Would that work to cover up the grease stain?
Legal Recourse
If I'm not getting any resolution soon, I may have to take the matter to small claims court. But from what I've read, I can't have somebody represent me in small claims court.
4. Do I have any legal recourse that isn't going to end up costing me more than what I can expect to get back of the deposit (max £750)? What's the success rate of that?
US to UK Phone Calls
5. Finally, I need to be able to call these people but I don't have a landline. Is there any way of making cheap calls from a US mobile to the UK? Ideally without having to enable the phone for overseas calls (which I would probably have to pay another deposit for).
Letting Agent
The letting agents hold the deposit. The last thing they said is that they were waiting for instructions from the landlord.
1. Is there a limit for how long the letting agent can wait for the landlord's instructions? What happens if the landlord just keeps prevaricating for months or years?
Cost of Redecorating
In the bedroom there was a grease stain from an accident with a lotion bottle. I pointed that out at the walk-through. On the protocol it says that money will be taken from the deposit to fix that. I'm fine with that, as long as the sum taken is reasonable but I'm not sure what's reasonable.
The wallpaper in the bedroom was very fancy but also getting pretty old. The flat (and the wallpaper) was about 11 years old when I left. I'd been there for 6 years myself. The wallpaper was one type up to about head-height, then there was a border and on top of the border was another type of wallpaper. The bedroom was very small, just barely big enough to fit a queen-size bed and a nightstand.
2. How much would it cost to re-do the fancy wallpapering with two different wallpapers and a border?
3. How much would it cost to simply paint over the wallpaper? Would that work to cover up the grease stain?
Legal Recourse
If I'm not getting any resolution soon, I may have to take the matter to small claims court. But from what I've read, I can't have somebody represent me in small claims court.
4. Do I have any legal recourse that isn't going to end up costing me more than what I can expect to get back of the deposit (max £750)? What's the success rate of that?
US to UK Phone Calls
5. Finally, I need to be able to call these people but I don't have a landline. Is there any way of making cheap calls from a US mobile to the UK? Ideally without having to enable the phone for overseas calls (which I would probably have to pay another deposit for).