Advice for my deposit?

I have been renting a flat in London for one year paying 拢1000. I was a very good tenant as I was paying the rent always on time, I kept the flat very clean and I never had parties or made any noise.





After the contract ended the owner asked to renew the contract for 12 months without breaking clause. I refused as I want to have the possibility to leave any time from a property if I give 1-2 months notice (especially if I have been living there already for 1 year). So, he said that I can leave the property if I do not like his terms. So, I did...I moved out, paid a lot of money for moving my stuff and spend a lot of time finding a new place.





The day I left he inspected the house and said it was oke. Then, I asked to release the deposit. He said he will. After a week, he said that he will release it minus cleaning hours (around 拢50) and minus a chair missing (it was a chair that costed 拢5. My boyfriends leaned and it broke so I throw it away).





I am very angry as I think this is unfair. I do not know what to do. I do not know who to ask for legal advice. I want my deposit in full and not minus 拢100. It is a matter of principle for me.


Please tell if you know any governmental service that I could ask for advice.





Thanks





PS He has broken the contract. He entered the flat without prior notice! At the time, I did not say anything but now I am very upset about it as he is the one who has broke the contract!|||Since you moved into the house only one year ago, legally your deposit should be being held by the Deposit Protection Scheme. This is a scheme that was set up by the government so that landlords cannot withhold deposits unreasonably. They will look after the whole thing until the two of you come to an agreement over how it should be split, and if you can't agree, then they will advise on what to do next. You should go to their website for further information.





Now, if you moved into the house after April 2007, then it's the *law* that that is where your deposit should be held. So what happens if it's not there? He is breaking the law on two counts then: first of all by not paying your deposit into the scheme, and secondly by withholding it unreasonably. In this case, I would contact the CAB for further advice.|||Your boyfriend broke the chair, so it should be paid for and replaced.


Have you any proof that it only cost 拢5 and he could still replace it for that cost.





You can ask for receipts as proof of what he had to spend to put the flat back to the way it should be before someone else moves in.





You could always go along to citizens advice and see what your rights are|||Try the Citizens Advice Bureau, they should be able to advise you as to what to do next.