can i sue my old landlord?

[Jeannine_Xiaoyu]

I just heard from the tenant who moved into my flat, in early 2009. He said that he is taking the landlords to court as the contracts are illegal.

I moved into the flat in November 2007 and left in February 2009. Could I sue them for rent that I paid, considering the contract was illegal? How would I go about it if so?

Thank you :)

they werent holding our money in a government banking scheme, that is why it is illegal :)

[jb190281]

did you get your money back when you left?

[hc4361]

Did you get your deposit back? Have you lost any money? Did you get the services that you paid the landlord for?

[buildersmate]

'Cos if the answers to the above are yes, no and yes, in that order, then the answer to your question is no. You haven't suffered any loss.
Now here's a question for you. Why is it so many people think they can sue for every diddlysquat minor imperfection in the world?

[jb190281]

my thoughts exactly buildersmate

[Buenchico]

If a landlord fails to protect a tenant's deposit (by placing it into a tenancy deposit scheme) it has no effect whatsoever upon the payment of rent. i.e. you can't claim any rent back from the landlord.

However if you'd have applied to a county court during the period of your tenancy, the court would have ordered the landlord to repay three times your deposit. See 'What if your landlord isn’t protecting your deposit?', here:
http://www.direct.gov...ancyDeposit/DG_066373

Since you've not challenged your landlord, through the courts, during the course of the tenancy (and you've presumably been repaid your deposit) I believe that it's unlikely that a court would now entertain any claim from you.

Chris

[Jeannine_Xiaoyu]

it was merely a question that i was just wondering about, to those who are moaning.

[fairkatrina]

what exactly are you wanting to sue them for? if its just an attempt to get your money back for no reason, then no. if the landlord has wronged you in some way then maybe, although bearing in mind that over a year has passed since you left the property you'd need a pretty good reason why you've delayed for so long.

[buildersmate]

Obviously merely a revenue-raising idea then, with no thought or understanding as to the legal process that provides for damages in the case of wrongdoing or compensation in the case of loss caused by the actions of another.

[bednobs]

BM, are you feeling alright? You have been very grumpy lately :)

[Old_Geezer]

The more I hear of the law the more I despair. Are you saying that all the rent you paid, the government tells a landlord what they have to do with their own money ?
It would be bad enough if we were only discussing deposits, which I can understand might need to be in a safe and easily access investment, but that should surely be it ? And then not a government scheme, just one that had the necessary safeguards.

Exactly what have you suffered that you have a case at some kind of refund ? Did you not get the accommodation you paid for ?