Terzo 333

To cut a long story short, a friend has rented a property out, taken a month's rent up front and a month's rent as a bond. Tennant has lost job and will have to leave at the end of the month.

They had a shorthold tennancy agreement in place, signed for a minimum of 6 months.

By law can they keep all / some of the deposit for the inconvenience caused ?

Thanks :-)

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Hmm, tough one, tenant is already having a hard time, not too nice to make it worse.

Afaik, you can deduct from the deposit the expenses you incur in finding a replacement tenant. Ask the tenant to try and find someone, and ask them to show around people reducing your costs.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Depends totally on whether they've done it legally. Have they lodged the bond with a bond protection company as they are supposed to? If not, hand the money back before you end up with a squatter and an illegal contract.

more on www.landlordzone.com

Terzo 333

Yes the bond is with the DPS

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

In that case he can ask but it really is up to them. He'll need to show reciepts etc to justify costs. I would say the advertising for the flat and the cost of drawing up the contract should be worth a few hundred quid.

At least the tenent has been honest, not moved in then started a housing benefit claim etc. Depends if it keeps going smoothly and/or if he wants to kick someone while they are down and all that.

5t.

Leslie

Fairest thing is to get his expenses back without making a profit out of the other bloke's misfortune I would think.

Les