Landlord not refunding my full deposit?
Think I have a strong case but wanted a second opinion, will try to be succinct here.
I moved out of my flat on 18th April after living there over 5 years, and TA states that the deposit should be refunded two weeks after.
About two weeks before moving out my agent came to inspect the flat (as she would be travelling during handover), went through in detail the inventory list and also tested things to make sure they worked.
We agreed on a few items to be repaired which hired a handyman to complete before moving out.
On handover day another agent came, and the landlord himself. We signed an inspection/handover agreement that there was nothing to be repaired and the agreement stated that the full deposit would be repaid to us.
Deposit was not refunded in time, and I do not hear anything. After three weeks (so 1 week late) I began following up with my agent every day for the deposit. No response.
Only after I threatened to go to small claims court did I get a list of repairs totalling around $700, all of which were new to us and never raised before. No further evidence or justification.
I also believed the new tenants moved in end of April already. I did not accept these repairs and asked for deposit to be refunded in full as agreed.
This morning I checked and the landlord refunded the deposit less this $700. Does this not count as stealing? I’m prepared to fight this, surely the landlord is wrong but as I’m a foreigner maybe the law here is just against me. Any advice would be appreciated!
Btw my experience of landlords and agents is shocking here, it really detracts from my experience here. I haven’t even included details of all repairs that landlord has never attended to during my tenancy.