I am currently renting private. My Landlord Left Me With No Hot water for 4 weeks and No Radiaters from the start of my tenancy. The probalems have now been fixed after a long time of having to keep ringing them. My Landlord has now imformed me that I have to move out at the end of the month (30th April 2011) at the start of the tenac I paid them £1000.00 as a deposit which they have took off the deposit scheme as now they want to use it as rent in advance. Is this possible. As I am not in any rent arrears and they only changed it once they told me I had to move out as my landlord was selling the property. I am a single mum of to girls under 2 and cannot afford to come up with that sort of cash again. After All the problems I have had with the property since start date of tenancy. I just wanted to know what my rights were?

I am assuming you are in the UK and the best way I can help you is to send you to a website for landlord/tenant rights in the UK, as this is n international site and what may be correct for us may not suit you.

www.inbrief.co.uk/property-law/landlord-and-tenant-rights

Edit: this website is still accessible. Please enter landlord/tenant issues in the search and you will find the information for UK tenant laws.

First, do you have a lease? If so when does it expire? Second, a security deposit is generally to be used to protect the landlord from damages when the tenant moves. They can use it for unpaid rent if there is any, but you are saying there isn't.

ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area. We need to know your general area ot check and see if we can find the law on return of security.