YARD DEPOSITS

squiz22

squiz22

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15 December 2009
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Binfield, Berkshire
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Until recently I had been at the same yard for most of my life. In the last year I have had to make two yard moves due to one reason or another. The first one was particularly unpleasant and the guy was a bit of a fraud and kept mine and everyone elses deposit. When we tried to get them back we were basically told to shove it.
Now I am moving from a second yard because they are turning it into a riding school and there are a zillion kids running about which isn't my cup of tea. Anyway, a few other people are leaving due to this and I have since heard she has stiffed them on their deposits. I am pretty sure shes going to try it on with mine too.
Has anyone else had this experience? What did you do? My deposit in £100 so thats a good amount of hay/feed/lessons I am losing out on..
 
depends on the contract you signed really, and what it says on the receipt for the deposit. if you have given the required notice as per contract and returned any keys etc given to you and your horse has not done any expensive damage there is no reason not to expect a refund of deposit providing there is no monies outstanding.
 
Our contracts state that so long as the stable, field and storage area have been left in a clean state and that horse has not caused any damage that has not been paid for and no monies are owing and a full months notice of leaving has been given then a full refund of the deposit wil be paid. In 5 years we have withheld 3 deposits, 2 for owing money and one for a horse that had caused nearly £200 of damage to brand new post and rail fencing by chewing it as owner had not ensured electric fencing was working.
 
Only pay enough rent in real money to make up the difference and use your deposit as the balance? That way if she argues about it, say Oh, I was short for the deposit on the new place, what damages am I responsible for etc etc and you have time to make them good.
 
I'd go with PennyJ's suggestion. I'd make sure I had my deposit back - or written reasons why I wasn't getting it back -before I paid the final livery payment. Then if the deposit was illegally retained I'd deduct the deposit from the last month's livery payment, enclosing a detailed breakdown of how I'd arrived at it. But I'd have a careful look through the contract first.
 
Thank you for your responses. I have given my one months notice and in turn paid my full months rent. My horse is on part livery and so I don't want to do anything that may jeapodize my horses care. She has already said that she will not turn him out because she doesn't want to waste her grass on him because i'm leaving. So he's been stuck in since xmas and will be for another 3 weeks. The problem is I have to going away for a week (on monday) so i am just nervous and want to keep things as amicable as possible until i move him. I don't want to be constantly stressing that he isn't being looked after properly whilst i am away.
It shouldn't be like this and its not professional. I have had run of two bad yards. Before that i have never experienced anything like it in about 15-20 years.
Very frustrating! Especially when I am trying to do the right thing!
 
I can't believe they 'don't want to waste the grass' because you are leaving. Perhaps it is a good thing you are leaving. Good luck with the new yard.
 
That's disgusting that she has stated that she doesn't want to waste good grass on him - if the yard offers winter turnout and there is no geniune reason for not turning out then that is what you are paying for - you have stated that you have paid the month out and followed you contractual obligations so the Yo is now in breach of contract. It's a difficult one as when you are away you want to be sure that your horse is being kept cared for (again as per contract) can you not ask another livery to keep an eye on your horse while you are away just to have a pair of eyes at the yard ? She has no right to withold your deposit unless again for a genuine reason - damage etc if not make sure you give her a written letter when you leave stating that everything is in order . clean tidy and any damage made good and that your terms of leaving has been made in accordance with your contract. . State that all property will be returned (ie Keys, locks, alarm codes etc ) upon receipt of the depoist paid on (date) . Stand your ground if you really believe that you owe nothing. It's too easy for people to roll over and the YO will just do it again and again and again !
Find a better yard and good luck with your move !
 
Hi all.. thanks for your comments.

In the end I said it was completely unacceptable my horse wasn't going to get any turnout and we both agreed that I could leave one week into my final notice period and that they would refund the 3 weeks livery and give me my deposit back.
3 weeks on and I am still trying to get it back as they have been on the dodge. When I went down to get the money the next day (after moving my horse) the girl who i dealt with said her dad would be paying me and that he would put it into my account. I gave them my details. Its never appeared.

I then called him and he agreed to send a cheque, week later - nothing. I then used the conference facilities at work and recorded my next phone call with him at which point he said that he had changed his mind and wasn't going to give me anything back because 2 other people left at the same time as me and came to my new yard. This was nothing to do with me and all to do with the place becoming a riding school. I have since had to threaten issuing a county court claim against him which he has ignored. I have now had to go ahead with the county court just to get my money back.

People who have given me advice on this have been disgusted with the way its been handled especially when i tried to do everything correctly. It always seems to be the honest people who try and do the right thing that get bitten on the bum! I am not having to go through a county court claim to get my money back.. its a huge hassle and very stressful.

I just new they were dodgy and when I tried to leave got screwed over. There is nothing to protect us from bad yard owners.


Would anyone use a deposit safe scheme like landlords do with tenants for yards? If so let me know - i would be really interested!
 
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