Previous Housemate Will Not Return Bond

joozbragain on 07/10/2016 - 16:11
Last edited 07/10/2016 - 19:16 by 1 other user

Fellow Ozbargainers

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. In August I moved into a house with two other people. I was subletting of this lady and she asked for a 2-week rent as a bond.

I paid the bond. All good.

It's all well and good until we all had to leave the house as the lady who I was subletting off had a new job a significant distance from where we were.

She had said that once the utility bills all arrive, she will give me a copy of the bills and calculate the amount and subtract that amount from the bond and refund me the rest of the money that's left. I had only lived in the house for a month and we had tank water. I'm pretty sure the utility bill isn't going to be that much.

This was the end of August. It's October and I'm pretty sure the bill has arrived but she has blocked my texts and my number (confirmed as I called on a private number and the call went through) and will not reply to me at all.

All the details I have of her is her name, her phone number and her bank BSB and Account number details (due to paying her rent online)

I'm just wondering what I should do to get my bond back? Do I have any leverage? I have proof via text that she has asked for the bond but as it was just a private subletting off gumtree I don't have an official document stating that I had paid the bond and will get it back as such.

the bond was $280.

TL:DR
I want my bond money back!!!!!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Findo on 07/10/2016 - 16:13
    +1

    Bikies. If she's playing dirty, you play dirty too. She obviously is a scumbag with no morals, as such you must act accordingly.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2016 - 16:35

    Why did you pay the bond to them directly instead of lodging it with the Rental Bonds Board which is a government body for exactly this?

    http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Tenants_and_home_owner…

    "The bond must be lodged with NSW Fair Trading. A landlord or agent cannot keep the money or put it into an account in the tenant’s name."

    • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2016 - 16:48

      the landlord is supposed to lodge the bond with fair trading, you don't do it yourself.

      • the-mal on 08/10/2016 - 07:21
        +1

        The landlord may fill out the paperwork. But bond money has always, and should always, be directed to Fair Trading.

        A money order was the typical method of old, made payable to the Rental Bond Board (can't remember the specifics, but something like that).

        And now it's all done online and you directly transfer the money to Fair Trading via a code your landlord gives you.

        Bond money should never ever go to the landlord directly if you want to avoid this very situation. That's always been the case.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2016 - 12:29
          +1

          This.

          In Victoria it is standard practice to get a bank cheque in the name of the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority

  • spackbace on 07/10/2016 - 17:29
    +1

    Was she the home owner? You could get her into a lot of shit if she was just a tenant, and sub-letting from there

    • joozbragain on 07/10/2016 - 18:17

      Yeah true! Nah she wasn't the home owner she was just a tenant!

      • subywagon on 07/10/2016 - 20:08

        Then tell her you are going to complain to the real estate agent about her subletting and keeping the bond to herself unless she pays you back.

        • dlf73 on 07/10/2016 - 20:19

          The question is how to tell her. The OP has no way to contact them!

        • subywagon on 07/10/2016 - 20:23

          @dlf73: OP says he has her phone number? I'm assuming it's a mobile. If she doesn't answer leave a text. If that fails go straight to the real estate agent.

        • dlf73 on 07/10/2016 - 21:31
          +1

          @subywagon: OP says blocked their number so guess it is straight to agent if there even was one!

        • subywagon on 07/10/2016 - 23:06

          @dlf73: could send a txt from another number, but I'd probably don't her in to the agent as well whether they get the money back or not.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2016 - 17:53
    +1

    Be annoying enough that she would just prefer to pay the money?

  • the-mal on 08/10/2016 - 07:28

    Do I have any leverage?

    Not really.

    In future always ask for proper paperwork upfront before money changes hands.

    In future ask for proof the money was lodged with Fair Trading or use a method that ensures the landlord can't use the money as cash (eg a cheque, bank cheque, money order or pay directly online).

    It sucks, but this is what happens when you don't do your own due diligence.

    Apart from outting her online, hassling her and her friends/family on social media etc, you've really got no leverage or avenue. It's certainly not worth considering legal action given the relatively small amount.

    If nothing else consider it a $280 lesson in demanding proper paperwork and knowing your rights and obligations upfront. Sorry!

    • joozbragain on 08/10/2016 - 09:28

      As an OzGargainer that's a lot of money to throw down the drain…

      • the-mal on 08/10/2016 - 12:41
        +1

        I agree. It sucks. But she's moved away to an unknown location and blocked your number. You've got no proper documentation and short of legal proceedings (which will cost you heaps in outlay) you've got no recourse other than leaving her a dodgy review online (truth only, no slander) and bugging her. Failing that it's just one of life's many very expensive lessons that we all learn… Just make sure you learn from it.

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