landlord refusing to return deposit

I need some advice.

I gave a deposit to a landlord and signed a contract. The contract did not have a time length on it, only that i needed to give 28 days notice if i was moving out of the house. I gave this notice after 4 months of staying in the house. I have fully paid all the rent and bills as of when i moved out.

Now the landlord is refusing to return the deposit as I did not find someone to move into the room I vacated. The house was as clean and tidy the day i left as the day I moved in. There were no damages at all.

Am i right in thinking this is not fair??

Hi Student and welcome to AAM!

Ive moved your question from Deposits to Property investment and tenants' rights which is where this type of question is dealt with on AAM.

aj
http://www.askaboutmoney.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Did you give the notice in writing? Did the landlord rent out on a room basis or the whole house?

Ultimately you should tell the landlord you are complaining to the PRTB if he doesn't refund your deposit? On what basis did he decide to withhold it? You can also contact the PRTB and Threshold for advice.

Thanks for answering, Yes i gave him notice in writing 28 days before hand. Rooms were rented out on a room to room basis. Two other people moved out at the same time as me, both giving written notice aswell. He claims that if I had made an immediate replacement of my room my deposit would have been returned in full, given the onus is on the outgoing tenant to find replacements. however this was not stated on the lease. I did however send a txt message when organising to move in stating that i would be there for the full year but it did not work out and i had no choice but to move out.

student_17 said:

He claims that if I had made an immediate replacement of my room my deposit would have been returned in full, given the onus is on the outgoing tenant to find replacements. however this was not stated on the lease. .

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The onus doesn't have to be in the lease, if it's a rule of the Tenancies act than you have to comply with it. Double check with the two organisaitons I mentioned to you.

Very odd that 3 people moved out at the same time ?

i have emailed prtb already as i could not find the address on the registered list, it turns out the house has not been registered for a few years now. the house was not in a great condition, a promised tv never arrived and the internet was not working sufficiently so a decision to move out was made.