O/T landlord/tenant law help please

[tonebha]

thanks for looking…
right, the situation is this: we rented our flat to someone for 395pcm and took a deposit of 395. no contract was signed (yes, foolish i know). after 3 or 4 weeks this person decided to leave, giving us no notice (should be 1 month?). they also left behind about £75 unpaid bills.
am i right in saying that they have forfeit any right to their deposit?

thanks for your help if anyone knows the answer

tone

 

[Wardy]

With no contract it is hard to say. The matter would have to be delt with in the small claims court.

Was there a verbal agreement about 1 months notice etc? If so then you would stand a good chance at court especialy if they have rented before. Either way it is up to them to take you to court for "their" money.

Were the bills in your name or theres? If it was there name then you will be okay on that front, if it is yours then you will still be liable.

 

[tonebha]

hi
in answer to your questions:
verbal agreement - yes
have they rented before - yes
bills in their name - yes, some
tone

 

[Wardy]

They will have to pay the bills then, just make sure you let the companys know when they moved and give metre reading etc.

Do not give them their deposit back, they knew that they were required to give a months notice which they didn't do. If they were to take you to small claim court they will find it very hard to justify not giving notice, unless of course there was any major problems with the property which meant that it was in habitable.

 

[tonebha]

thanks mate, from what you say they haven’t got a leg to stand on, so i’ll be sticking by me guns as it were.
tone