My sister rents out a house and was given a cheque for £695 which she presented three times. By the third time it had been cancelled, but the bank refused to disclose whether the tenant’s account was still open. Is there any way this money can be recovered?
I take it the tenant has now left. Ideally the deposit should cover a failure to pay the rent, and landlords should take action at the first hint of trouble. If the tenant has now moved on and your sister knows his whereabouts (and thinks he may have some money) she can take out a claim in the County Court. Knowingly writing a cheque that will bounce can be a criminal offence, and amount to obtaining a financial advantage by deception.