Just want to relate what happened to me the other day. Moved out of a property on 20/03/10. We had been there for almost 18 months, under a lease (Part 4 Tenancy at that stage, since signed lease was 12 month fixed term).
FINALLY 4 weeks later, after dodging texts and calls from me, the Landlord says he's available to return the deposit and to meet me at the house immediately (no problem, as it's only 5 minutes from my work).
So we're in the property. Begin conversation:
LL: "About return of deposit - to start with, you paid one month's rent in advance, so I owe you that. Rent was €1,300 p/m so that's fine, for starters."
Me: "Deposit was €1,350, as we secured a rent reduction to €1,300, so you owe me €1,350." (luckily I had a copy of the lease on me, so no further disputes.)
LL not happy, but agrees that he owes €1,350.
Then: refund of €225 for painting of the hall, which LL wanted done before we moved out because he "didn't like the colour" (HE had painted it that colour!!). LL disputed that he would pay that back, since it "constituted wear and tear".
I stood my ground - the LL had requested the painting for cosmetic reasons and had said he would pay for it before we arranged for it to be painted so there was no way I was being held responsible for it.
Then: LL says he's going to deduct €200 for professional cleaning, since there was "a cobweb" (I reached up and put it in my pocket - voila: no cobweb any more
).
But LL then goes on, "you know, it's a bit dusty and not lettable in its current condition without a professional clean". WTF!!! I had moved out a month previous and he was complaining of dust?!? AND he's already let the place - people moved in last weekend ("unlettable in its current condition" my ar$e!).
Anyway, I know the law and my rights in relation to the deposit (thank you boards.ie and AAM!), so detailed the circumstances when monies could be withheld from a deposit, and that cleaning is NOT one of them. LL VERY begrudgingly agreed that he "would let that go, then".
When LL finally wrote out a cheque for the correct amount, my name is not on the cheque (luckily I did check it over before I left and got him to correct it).
Cheque should clear in my account by end of business today, so here's hoping he doesn't cancel the cheque before I can lodge it and it clears.
Sorry, very long post, and no real question, just wanted to point out:
If I was foreign and wasn't aware of my rights/the law, my landlord could've conceivably just 'stolen' almost a third of MY money.
Something has to be done about the attitudes of some Landlords - ie some of them have a false sense of entitlement towards other people's money.
FINALLY 4 weeks later, after dodging texts and calls from me, the Landlord says he's available to return the deposit and to meet me at the house immediately (no problem, as it's only 5 minutes from my work).
So we're in the property. Begin conversation:
LL: "About return of deposit - to start with, you paid one month's rent in advance, so I owe you that. Rent was €1,300 p/m so that's fine, for starters."
Me: "Deposit was €1,350, as we secured a rent reduction to €1,300, so you owe me €1,350." (luckily I had a copy of the lease on me, so no further disputes.)
LL not happy, but agrees that he owes €1,350.
Then: refund of €225 for painting of the hall, which LL wanted done before we moved out because he "didn't like the colour" (HE had painted it that colour!!). LL disputed that he would pay that back, since it "constituted wear and tear".
I stood my ground - the LL had requested the painting for cosmetic reasons and had said he would pay for it before we arranged for it to be painted so there was no way I was being held responsible for it.
Then: LL says he's going to deduct €200 for professional cleaning, since there was "a cobweb" (I reached up and put it in my pocket - voila: no cobweb any more
). But LL then goes on, "you know, it's a bit dusty and not lettable in its current condition without a professional clean". WTF!!! I had moved out a month previous and he was complaining of dust?!? AND he's already let the place - people moved in last weekend ("unlettable in its current condition" my ar$e!).
Anyway, I know the law and my rights in relation to the deposit (thank you boards.ie and AAM!), so detailed the circumstances when monies could be withheld from a deposit, and that cleaning is NOT one of them. LL VERY begrudgingly agreed that he "would let that go, then".
When LL finally wrote out a cheque for the correct amount, my name is not on the cheque (luckily I did check it over before I left and got him to correct it).
Cheque should clear in my account by end of business today, so here's hoping he doesn't cancel the cheque before I can lodge it and it clears.
Sorry, very long post, and no real question, just wanted to point out:
If I was foreign and wasn't aware of my rights/the law, my landlord could've conceivably just 'stolen' almost a third of MY money.
Something has to be done about the attitudes of some Landlords - ie some of them have a false sense of entitlement towards other people's money.