england-and-wales landlord residential-lease tenant
Landlord wanted me to leave and is now refusing to return my deposit
<p>I was evicted after complaints from other tenants in a House of Multiple Occupancy.</p>
<p>The landlord refuses to return the deposit. I also received an email from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) on 18th December informing me that my tenancy had been ended by the landlord. The TDS was also registered by the landlord 12 days after my contracted started.</p>
<p>I've contacted the TDS, after the landlord refused to talk to me anymore and raised a dispute about the security. The TDS said they will contact the landlord to get his side, and then get my side and that their lawyer(s) would decide what happens to my deposit.</p>
<p>Under what circumstances can the landlord legally retain the security deposit?</p>

<p>If the tenant and the landlord dispute the amount to be repaid, the amount repaid is arbitrated by the TDS used. This is what is currently happening.</p>
<p>Deductions can be made for costs incurred to the landlord by the actions of the tenant, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Unpaid utilities or rent</li>
<li>Damage to the property caused directly by the tenant or indirectly by the tenant's poor maintenance</li>
<li>Damage to furniture owned by the landlord</li>
<li>Cleaning of the property</li>
<li>Storage and removal of items left on the property by the tenant</li>
</ul>
<p>Deductions cannot be made for items that are the landlord's responsibility to maintain. This includes essential appliances and fittings, as well as the exterior of the property.</p>
<p>At this point, your best source of advice is the Citizen's Advice Bureau. They will have more information about how best to handle this dispute.</p>
