Can any landlors / ladys help me wrt to TDS?

(16 Posts)
daphnehoneybutt Wed 23-Apr-14 10:59:28


I am coming to end of my tenancy and hoping to get the majority of my deposit back as we have been good tenants and have discussed with LLord.

I just thought I had better look over the TDS paperwork to ensure I had it all in case of any problems.

I have a cert of tenancy registration which has a code on the top of it -this was given to me at the start of the tenancy by the LLord.

It is a bit of a dodgy print out think navy printed on black but I think I can make out a tenancy UID code.

I have tried entering this into the TDS website (the "Is my deposit protected") bit and it is saying there is no record of the deposit being protected.

The certificate we have is dated 2009 - 2010. Over the past 5 years we have signed 2 more tenancy agreements and he has written "deposit already in place" on them.

I don't think he has done anything dodgy but should we have had new codes / certificates for each new tenancy? Does it roll over or does this mean my deposit is no longer protected?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MirandaWest Wed 23-Apr-14 11:08:15

I have been given a new deposit certificate for each new tenancy agreement but don't know if that's a standard thing.

daphnehoneybutt Wed 23-Apr-14 11:27:47

Ooh I wonder if he has other certs he has not passed onto us.

I wouldn't be surprised if my deposit was no longer protected though...

I would love to ask now if the deposit is protected but I don't want get his hackles up now with a few days to go. He's the kind of person if any error on his point is mentioned he gets very shirty.

What would have happened at the end of the original tenancy from a LLord pov? Would they have prompted him to "roll over the protection" and given him a new certificate?

I have looked on the TDS website (deposit originally in TDS) with all the tenancy agreement dates, and nothing is coming up.

Atbeckandcall Wed 23-Apr-14 11:36:15

You are supposed to log the deposit with a TDS every year.
Might explain why you can't see it if it was last done a couple of years ago?

ChunkyPickle Wed 23-Apr-14 11:36:55

Errr - the landlord gave you your TDS number? That's a bit odd..

I'm a landlord, and I have no idea of my tenant's TDS numbers, or how often they are issued.

I'm also a tenant, and I got sent one directly, not given to me by the landlord (very clear, nice paper etc) at the beginning of my tenancy, and didn't get a second when I renewed my contract.

I'd give TDS a call, because this feels a bit weird and dodgy to me, as though he might have avoided the 50 quid fee and manufactured one for himself.

Atbeckandcall Wed 23-Apr-14 11:37:19

BTW, if it isn't protected you can claim up to 3 times the deposit amount back. I'm saying this as a ll!

daphnehoneybutt Wed 23-Apr-14 11:44:00

Thanks all who have replied

All I can see on the "Certificate of tenancy registration" is a "tenancy UID code"?

So the TDS should have sent to me directly?

If he hasn't logged it every year does that mean its no longer protected?

Crap. I will call them.

ChunkyPickle Wed 23-Apr-14 12:00:34

I've just dug mine out - it's all green and blue (white paper), it lists my landlord (well, the agent), the tenants, when the tenancy started, and when it is ending on or after - so there's no need for further certificates by my reading, it should still be in there and protected if it ever was.

It then lists the amount of deposit, who it was registered by and when.

My Tenancy Certificate code is in a green column on the right hand side, it's both lower and upper characters and numbers, 7 characters long.

ChunkyPickle Wed 23-Apr-14 12:02:21

I just typed the code in here:

and it's all there, fine and dandy.

Looks like he's pulled a fast one. You might have to familiarise yourself with the small-claim court if he's not forthcoming!

ChunkyPickle Wed 23-Apr-14 12:03:32

Oh, hang on - he hasn't given you a copy of his paperwork maybe? You still should have received a certificate yourself though..

daphnehoneybutt Wed 23-Apr-14 12:12:47

Hahaha im looking at the print out he gave us . Looks dodgy as hell. I think its was legit though for the first 12 months.

The code I have is 6 chars, all letters one uppercase.

Bloke has several properties but strikes me as a bit strange tbh e.g. insists on doing all repairs himself but he doesn't know what he is doing. We have had a leak for 2 years which he has fixed numerous time until he got a pro in who told him he wasn't fixing it correctly. So if he has buggered this up I would not be shocked.

I tried calling TDS and they just play you a recorded message about checking the website.

If I get the full deposit back I will be happy if not I guess I am going to have to brush up on the due process of attempting to get it back.

Thanks for all your help

specialsubject Wed 23-Apr-14 12:13:59

the landlord's duty is to protect the deposit with every tenancy AND make sure the tenant has the details (the 'prescribed information') Not doing both those things allows the tenant to sue for 3 x the deposit.

first, contact the TDS by phone, talk to a real person, see if it is really there or not. If it isn't, get in touch with the landlord to raise it as a query first.

the reason I suggest being polite to start with is in case of a cockup - he may have trusted agents to do it and they messed up. Still his problem but give him a chance to sort first. If he doesn't sort it/isn't helpful then take no prisoners.

(landlords - make damn sure agents get it right)

specialsubject Wed 23-Apr-14 12:14:56

ps if the TDS won't answer the phone, raise a complaint online and demand that they call you.

specialsubject Wed 23-Apr-14 12:16:06

pps just seen update. Remind him of his legal obligations and the penalties! (There is a template letter on the Shelter website)

Atbeckandcall Wed 23-Apr-14 18:23:08

It does also depend on the types of tenancy. It's as clear as mud to be honest. Definitely best to call TDS and see what they say.

Raskova Wed 23-Apr-14 19:06:36

Hi, I haven't rented for almost three years and the only place I stayed at for longer than original tenancy was a complete knob but...

I didn't have any new certificates with DPS over the 5 years I lived there but I did keep the original paperwork. The deposit was all there waiting for me and the usual procedures followed. I'm sure there isn't much difference between DPS and TDS. They should answer though. That doesn't seem right.

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