Help with security deposit

[reenie1]

We rented a Windsor Hills home from an overseas owner in mid-April. We left the house in perfect condition but have not received our security deposit back. The owner now says he has sent it twice but we haven't gotten anything. I found an online guestbook about this owner and unfortunately it looks like he has said the same thing to others in the past and they haven't received their security deposits back either-guess I should have googled him before I rented the house. Now he's not even answering my e-mails. We found the house through windsorhillsrent website. There was a management company, but we paid the owner via check. Do I have any recourse? We have rented vacation homes many times without any problems in the past, so this was a surprise. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Sunresortvillas]

I'm sorry to hear about your problems. I live in the UK and am delighted to report that we welcome many US guests to our homes. Most owners (myself included) have a line in our terms and conditions to state that upon receipt of a satisfactory management report, the security deposit is returned in full within 4 weeks of departure. Most times, it is returned within the 4 weeks. In all the times I have been renting, I have only ever had one security deposit check go missing when returning to the US (and this was recently).

My guest was really lovely about it and I have to say very patient. I did ask her to wait for several weeks to see if it would appear (especially as I had never lost a deposit check before), sadly, it still didn't arrive and in the end, I had to cancel the check and reissue another one (that reached her within a week of me posting of it).

What I am trying to say in a roundabout way is that the owner may be very genuine (as I was when mine went missing). Do you have their management contact details, maybe if they are not answering your e-mails, you can call their management company to see if they can assist you? An alternative route would be to ask them to cancel the check they have issued to you and for them to wire the deposit directly back into your bank account.

Do let us know how you go on.

Kind regards

 

[kilee]

Since it's been 4 months, that is a bit long. I'd issue a final letter to them demanding the the return of the deposit.

 

[isla bonita]

You might have how does the contract read.

Ours states within 30 days after departure. I also had one that was delayed but it was taken care of as soon as I heard back from our guests.

4 Months is way to long.

 

[reenie1]

This is what the rental agreement stated:


"Additional to the rental price I also require a security bond of £150 to cover the cost of any breakages, damage or excessive cleaning or utility bills during your stay. The bond will be returned within 7-14 days, less any deductions deemed necessary by our management company. "

I've tried to be patient as he always promptly responded to questions prior to our visit, and he was also VERY slow depositing our final check, but 4 months is just crazy! The last response I got from him was after an e-mail where I was more demanding (prior e-mails were ignored), and he said he would send another check. Then I never heard from him again and it's been about 5 weeks now. It's too bad because we liked the house and were planning to rent it again next year.

 

[JANNYANS]

I agree 4 months is too long really most are usually 30 days .Can you send them a letter which they have to sign for and that you can track online - have you got that facility as we do here in UK?
Ask them to resend the cheque -they will know from their bank statements previous ones have not been cashed or to do a transfer straight to your bank as they obviously don't have reason to keep it if they have already sent it back twice.I don't think this is acceptable .

 

[deejay-55]

Have you also considered getting in touch with the Better Business Bureau?

 

[reenie1]

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can send a letter he has to sign for. I hadn't thought of reporting to the BBB - I'll look into that. Does anyone know if there is a certain agency that licenses these homes that I could contact? Thanks.

 

[disnymagical]

I too have to agree that 4 months is wayyyyyyyyy tooooooo long! And to ignore emails, well what can I say. Its homeowners like this that give us all bad names!!!! URRRGH!!!

We rented a home in February on the Gulf coast and the owner knew we too owned in Orlando but I still had to chase them up for my security deposit return - six weeks altogether!!!

Our terms and conditions state that we return our security deposit within ONE week of departure, often our guests actually receive it within the week too!

Perhaps another Windsor Hills owners that post on here may know the owner and can assist on your behalf?

Hope you get it sorted out real soon.
Chris

 

[JANNYANS]

Although the home need licenses that are issued by the State and the County they don't really get involved in any disputes .Have you contacted the owners of the listing site as contacting the owners may help as the last thing the site owners want is bad reviews of homes and owners listed there.

 

[reenie1]

I can't figure out how to contact the site where I found the house directly - windsorhillsrent - anyone have an idea?

 

[mungo]

Isn't windsorhillsrent an owners site? If so perhaps a pm to George might help (5min2disney) as he is an owner on there, perhaps he can help you with who to contact.

Good luck with getting your deposit back

 

[JANNYANS]

Have PM'd you

 

[reenie1]

Thanks, Jan, I will contact her.