The law is an ass....but sometimes, even asses are useful
Over the last few years, the UK government has drafted hundreds of new laws. Most of them are a complete waste of time, covering offences which are already quite adequately covered under existing laws. But, every now and again, they come up with a good one.Like this one
Read the first paragraph. And again. Once more. See that? "If you are not protecting a tenant’s deposit you will be ordered to repay three times the amount to the tenant"
I've done a bit of checking, and that 3x deposit is IN ADDITION to refunding the original deposit. So now, S4L have until Friday to advise me of what protection scheme my deposit is in, along with all the other info. Since they are unlikely to have protected it yet, and probably can't protect it without a tenancy agreement, they're going to have a few problems there.
Because I'm a nice guy, I've sent them an email, warning them of the impending deadline, and even telling them that, in the circumstances, I won't consider that deadline to have been breached until next Wednesday - 3 extra days. Of course, this now means that if I take them to court, I'll be looking for:
Deposit: £350
Application Fee: £90
3x Deposit Penalty for not protecting deposit: £1050
All this because they insist that they can hold onto £350.
I'll see your £350 and raise you £1490. Call, or fold? (it's poker night tomorrow)
posted by SingleGuy @ 9:43 pm
Comments: 0
