Can the estate agent keep the deposit?

[aflores]

Hello,

If the agent keeps your deposit and you do not have an agreement with him allowing him to do so, he is allegedly missapropriating these funds and therefore, could be incurring in criminality. This should be made clear to him, giving him 10 days to react failing which, you should be filing straight with the Courts. The media is an option but only when you have invoked your rights and gone to the Courts.

[Marlene88]

This is not legal at all. I had the same issue and in the end the agent return the money.