Accidental short term tenancy agreement
Lodger agreement turned into an accidental periodic tenancy as we were away from the property for a few months and allowed 2 lodgers to overlap by mutual agreement.
Troublesome second lodger has now discovered that she can pursue us for compensation for not protecting her deposit in a deposit protection scheme and wants £2,000 (deposit was £800, we had asked for bank details to return that).
I told her we are both in breach of contract as she did not give us proper notice, she paid half rent for April and left in the middle of April, giving her moving date 1 week before she left . I think that under the terms of a periodic tenancy agreement we are entitled to notice of a month ending on a payment day, which is £1,200, so we should just return her £800 deposit and call it quits. She refuses and intends to take action.
How do we pursue her for withholding rent and failure to give notice? Is there a standard form?
Thanks for any experience people on here can share.