Tenancy deposit – what to do?

Tenancy Deposits

I've got an enquiry from a tenant's point of view. I am a landlord, but I'm also a tenant, and I'm not 100% clear on my current position as a tenant with regards an unreturned deposit.

When I rented a flat in Jan this year I handed over a deposit of some £1000 to the letting agent. I checked out of the flat on October 13 with a recommendation from the letting agent to the landlord to pay back all of the deposit (minus an inventory fee taken by the letting agent).

Having waited patiently for funds to arrive, nothing has happened. I have harassed the letting agents, who in term claim to have harassed the landlord. I have asked for details of the deposit scheme in which the landlord put the money, to be told there is no record of that having happened.

My suspicion is that the landlord did not put the deposit into one of the schemes. What I want to know now is how do I go about recovering my deposit, and on what grounds can I take action?

Thanks

Ben Ashby