Etiquette on returning tenants deposit?

M

Mommah

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Is it appropriate to hold onto some of the tenants deposit until all the utility bills are paid? Or just trust that they will pay their share when bill arrives.(after their departure)
 
if they are in their names then they would be liable. if not i suppose it would make sense. could u contact the providers to check if all bills have been cleared?
 
It is the tenant's responsibility to show you ALL the bills have been paid. Only then are you obliged to hand back the deposit after checking for damage.
 
The utility bills are in tenants names - ntl, esb Gas, sky, bin fee, so they are responsible - not the actual house owner/landlord
Am I missing something?

So its deposit less damage (not normal wear & tear but you could count replacing a smelly carpet(s) or the cleaning of a house by a professional cleaner if the state is really bad, or the cleaning/restoration of a patio/deck if really bad ) = return to tenants
 
jaybird said:
If the bills are in tenants names you cannot withold the deposit. If the bills are in your name you should have a clause in the lease about what happens when they leave. Rental deposits unless specifically stated in the lease have nothing to do with bills.
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I think you may be incorrect on this one. Tenants have an obligation not to leave a property in a worser position than previously. If they leave the property with unpaid bills, the utility provider might choose not to supply the utility service to that property.

What happens if there is no TV licence paid ?? This bounces paid to the property owner !!!
 
I ALWAYS send a letter tenants 7 days before they depart thanking them for their tenancy, good behavior and punctual payment of rent ETC. I offer to give them written references if required.

I also advise them that if the apartment is not clean, I will retain their deposit until I have paid professional cleaners who charge 180 per day ( I just made that figure up). This guarantees a clean apartment!

Back in the days when ESB bills were still in my name, I always retained 300 of the deposit until the final bill was calculated and paid. I then forwarded the balance to a nominated tenant with the receipt. This was stipulated in the Lease.

When the next tenants move in, close the account. Provide the ESB with the new tenants name and phone number. You can then wash your hands of the matter FOREVER,
 
mathepac said:
What does the lease say?
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I don't think it mentions bills.

What I'm hearing is that I should return the deposit, but the gas bill is in another tenants name...so its that tenant who would be high and dry not me...but would still cause problems.

Also there is the issue of a damaged stair carpet...which the departing tenant took it upon himself to get cleaned...there are still marks (I haven't seen it myself as I'm abroad) The carpet is 10yrs old and needing replacing anyway ....so I don't know about deducting a sum for that or not.

I find it difficult with individual tenants who share a house to identify who to charge for damage...eg a torn (cut not worn) arm on a good leather armchair.

Generally I let it slide...because I'm not there myself.
I'm scared what I'll find when I get home!
 
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