Help! Former landlord causing trouble!

choobles

Hi,


Recently moved out of an apartment where we had a bit of trouble with the landlord. Moved out a week ago and got our full deposit back. Now I'm after receiving a call from her saying there is an "infestation" in the apartment and she is saying it is from hay from our rabbit and is saying we now have to pay. I said no and now she is threatening us with a solicitor.

My understanding is that her contract with us has ended so she has no comeback, am I right?

Thanks in advance.

blindsider

Did landlord (or her agent) visit the flat before giving you the deposit? And were you present? If yes, you can argue that their opportunity to discover faults was then, and they didn't.

If no, then they may have a case - do you think the hay had anything to do with it? If yes, it'd be worth trying to sort it quickly and quietly, if they're making it up and chancing their arm, then tell them so.

It'll cost her a few quid to engage a solicitor and it may not be worth her while. However, if she feels rightly aggrieved, then she may pursue you on principle.

choobles

Oh yeah she came around and went through the inventory with us, signed everything off as okay.

Think she's just chancing her arm with us because she tried to hassle us before

djimi

If she has an issue with you then shell have to take it through the PRTB. To do this she will need to have evidence against you, and the fact that she has already signed off an inspection and given back the deposit may well go against her.

Id say let her go through the PRTB if she wishes (assuming she is registered with them) and see how that goes. I wouldnt worry too much about it in the meantime.

choobles

djimi wrote: »

If she has an issue with you then shell have to take it through the PRTB. To do this she will need to have evidence against you, and the fact that she has already signed off an inspection and given back the deposit may well go against her.

Id say let her go through the PRTB if she wishes (assuming she is registered with them) and see how that goes. I wouldnt worry too much about it in the meantime.

Thanks very much for all the advice!

mrmitty

Did you have permission to have a pet (rabbit) and did the rabbit cause the damage?
If the pet caused the damage then you should make the landlord whole.

choobles

mrmitty wrote: »

Did you have permission to have a pet (rabbit) and did the rabbit cause the damage?
If the pet caused the damage then you should make the landlord whole.

Yep had permission from the start for the rabbit so all good on that front. Nope no damage at all caused by the rabbit

mrmitty

choobles wrote: »

Yep had permission from the start for the rabbit so all good on that front. Nope no damage at all caused by the rabbit

Then follow the poster above's advice and take your issue up with PRTB and don't worry about it too much.

blindsider

choobles wrote: »

Oh yeah she came around and went through the inventory with us, signed everything off as okay.

Think she's just chancing her arm with us because she tried to hassle us before

Do you have a copy of this? (Might be worth looking for)

Then she has effectively already agreeed that you returned the flat in the condition expected - in effect, she agreed that the flat was in good order.

Who knows what happened the flat since you vacated it? (And it's not your concern either - you gave up possession and therefore cannot be held accountable.)

If she chooses to engage a solicitor or register a grievance via the PRTB, then that's her right.

By the way:

- Were you given a Rent book?

- Does the flat have a current BER certificate?

- Is the property RTB registered?


There are other q's you could ask, but they'd do for starters...

If necessary (down the line) you can ask these questions - just in case things get silly.

Zamboni

Avoid any contact with her or her legal representatives.
Keep your documentation safe and do nothing until a body of an appropriate legal authority requests your presence/action.