Livery owner wont give me my deposit back

[Teamvaller2]

I move onto a yard 1st July, I paid a month's rent upfront plus a month's rent as a deposit, the YO said this was incase I left without giving a month's notice, which is fair enough. On asking about a contract he said he doesn't do them. I moved into my stable and after 3 months gave the YO a month's notice as he informed us he'd decided to raise his prices and I felt the livery was now going to be too high, infact he lost 12 liveries in a weekend over this.
I left a couple of days before the end of my notice period and then messaged the YO to get my deposit back it took a few to get a reply, he then informed me that he needed to work out the cost of 'damages'. Basically the railings round my stable were not bolted to the wall, this had been flagged up by 2 previous liveries in my stable, my boy is 17hh and when he itched his bum on the railings, because they weren't bolted to the wall as they should be they moved a few cms and cracked some cement ontop of the wall which the railings sat on. He stated he would have to work out the cost to repair the rebuild of the wall.
We are literally talking a 10 mins to fill the gaps.
I pointed out the railing had never been secured by him and if this was the result then it wasn't fit for purpose. I've heard nothing for 2 weeks, where do I stand.

 

[ycbm]

I would write a recorded delivery letter detailing the fact that the rails were already loose and telling him you'll sue him if he doesn't return your deposit within a week. If he doesn't, you can then pay £25 to raise a claim against him in the Small Claims Court. He'll likely pay once he gets the court notification.

It's good that he has acknowledged that you have paid it.