tenants deposit account fraud???

[hvj4]

Hi, can anyone tell me is it illegal to take money out of a tenants deposit account without the tenants/landlords permission and spend it on personal items such as a new car, deposit for a house ect (and not replace it immediatly) or is it up to the letting agents disrection what they do with the money.

[Amanda]

I hope you are joking!!! The tenants deposit money should not be used for anything other than to pay for delapidations above fair wear and tear at the end of a tenancy. It should sit in an account until the tenants vacate and under no circumstances should this money be spent on personal items!

Are you an agent considering doing this or a tenant wondering what's happened to their deposit?