Transferring security deposit

[kaz202]

We have moved from one letting agent who was very good but in the last 12 months has completely lost the plot. We transferred to another letting agent about 6 weeks ago but we still have not received the security deposit that should be passed to the new letting agent. Numerous phone calls and emails. I am aware that the owner is off sick but this is ridiculous now. They do not belong to ARLA or any other organisation.

Any advice on how we get the security deposits to the new letting agent?

Thanks for any help.
Karen

[MrShed]

Small claims court.

[Paul_f]

Duff advice I'm afraid Mr Shed as the SCC won't be able to help. Remember it's the tenant's money and only the tenant can instruct the agent who holds it to transfer it to the new agent, not the landlord. As they are not members of ARLA/NAEA/RICS I wouldn't be wanting that to happen as they are almost certainly not insured to hold it! Mind you the original agent might be similarly lacking in such matters.

[MrShed]

My apologies. I should have made it much more abundately clear. I meant that if it gets to the stage where the landlord has to pay the tenant his damage deposit back, then he would have to take the LA to small claims, as I believed that in the interim there is nothing he could do to make them move - however I never quite clicked on that of course it would need the tenants authorisation.

Oh and when he said isnt a member of an organisation, I read it to mean his old LA.

[kaz202]

The tenants have already given their permission to move the money - that happened 5 weeks ago and still nothing has happened. Maybe I need to get the new letting agent to inform them of this and see if they want to take it further?

Thanks for your comments.

Karen