Problems with Letting Agent

Letting Agents

We used a letting agent to source a tenant for our flat, including checking references.  They took the deposit.  We then managed the tenancy ourselves.  He turned out to be the tenant from hell - £18k in rent arrears, bringing unauthorised people into the property, extensive damage so the property is now not fit to let out.  The agents have refused to give us the deposit unless the TDS raise a dispute, although we have court documents proving we are owed far in excess of the deposit.  The TDS have said they can't raise a dispute because the tenant made no objections to the deposit being returned.  The agents (a well-known National organisation) are keeping our deposit.  Furthermore, when they sent their references we found the tenant had 12 prior addresses which should have been a red flag, and his work records were clearly false as he had been employed as a takeaway manager from the date of his birth, earning nearly double the usual salary for that role.  Has anyone had similar experiences?  We believe they did not carry out due diligence when sourcing the tenant, and they have no justification for keeping the deposit - particularly as there has been no dispute from the tenant who was evicted six months ago.  If we take them to court we will have to represent ourselves as we are not now in a position to pay for legal help.  Any advice would be appreciated.