Accidental llord
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42 Posts
Hello
I let my property to a couple who split acrimoniously. One person left and the other wants to stay on so I’m ending their joint AST and will start a new 12-month one for the tenant who will remain.
The person who left wants their half of the deposit back.
The online agent I used conducted the check out and I’m going through the process of deposit deductions I would like to make. I have learned from the agent and My Deposits that the deposit will be returned to the lead tenant, the person who will remain in the property. I asked whether he will send his former partner half of the deposit. In reply, he simply sent me a text message saying he paid the deposit and the rent throughout the couple’s time in the property.
My Deposits say they cannot force the lead tenant to share half of the deposit with his former partner. My online agent say they cannot do anything and I don’t think I can do anything. I would like to check with the NRLA community whether there’s anything I am not doing that I should be? Is there a way she can get what she says is her half of the deposit back?
The tenant who left mentioned to me recently that she may involve a solicitor in the process as the check out has taken a long time (this is because 1. The remaining tenant works around six days a week so his availability for a check out that aligned with the online agent’s availability was limited and 2. I had to go back and forth to the online agent on the check out report as it was sloppily done and there were multiple errors). She is also refusing to return her keys to me as she says she won’t do so unless I ensure she gets various items back from her former partner (I tried to ask him to return the items - on her behalf - and he said she has items of his that need to be returned too and both say police have been involved at various points, so I’ve since stepped back from this). I am therefore claiming for replacement keys to be fitted and issued as part of the check out process.
Can I check, should I be doing anything more than I have? Is there a risk I could face legal challenge from the tenant that left?
Thanks
