How to Dispute Cleaning Deductions With mydeposits
mydeposits is the only deposit protection provider with UK-wide coverage — operating in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Jersey. It's owned by Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd, part of the Brown & Brown insurance group, and offers both custodial and insured protection. If your deposit is with mydeposits and your landlord is claiming deductions for cleaning, this guide covers the process and how to position yourself for the best outcome. If you haven't moved out yet, start with our end of tenancy cleaning checklist.
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Case assessor before adjudication📏
Product lifespan benchmarks🌍
UK-wide coverage⏱
3-month dispute windowFirst — confirm your deposit is with mydeposits. Check at mydeposits.co.uk. Not mydeposits? See our guides for DPS or TDS.
What Makes mydeposits Different
Case assessor before adjudication
A dedicated case assessor reviews your dispute first
At DPS and TDS, disputes go fairly directly to adjudication. At mydeposits, a case assessor evaluates evidence from both sides and communicates with both parties to try to reach agreement before formal adjudication. Led by Suzy Hershman, who has been with mydeposits for over 12 years. Many disputes resolve at this stage — faster and with more control.
Product lifespan guidance
Published benchmarks on how long items should last
Their guide on life expectancy of rental products covers carpets, appliances, décor, and fixtures. Adjudicators use this when calculating proportionate awards. If your landlord claims £300 for an oven that was already eight years old at check-in, the expected lifespan directly affects the award. Reference these benchmarks in your evidence.
Only scheme with UK-wide coverage
Licensed versions in Scotland, NI, and Jersey
mydeposits is the only scheme that also operates in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Jersey — making it the only deposit protection provider with coverage across the whole of the UK. Owned by Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd, part of the Brown & Brown insurance group.
How the mydeposits Dispute Process Works
The case assessor stage is the key difference — it sits between evidence and adjudication and resolves many disputes early. Understanding your rights when moving out will help you navigate each step with confidence.
You raise the dispute
After failing to agree deductions, raise a dispute through the mydeposits portal. You must do this within three calendar months of moving out. Provide your evidence and choose formal resolution or court.
Landlord notified and responds
Within 10 working days, the landlord must send mydeposits the unresolved deposit amount and confirm whether they agree to the resolution service or prefer court.
UNIQUE TO MYDEPOSITS
Case assessor reviews
This is where mydeposits diverges. The case assessor evaluates evidence, contacts both parties, explains strengths and weaknesses of each position, and proposes a settlement. If both agree, the deposit is released without adjudication.
Landlord provides evidence
The landlord has 20 working days from initial notification to provide evidence supporting their proposed deductions. File uploads capped at 20MB per file.
You comment on their evidence
You have three working days to comment on the landlord's evidence by email. You cannot submit new evidence at this point — but you can flag anything misleading, disproportionate, or contradictory.
Adjudication and decision
If the case assessor can't broker an agreement, they prepare the case for an independent adjudicator. Binding decision within 28 calendar days. Money distributed within five working days of the decision.
If the case assessor contacts you, engage constructively. Explain your position clearly, reference your evidence — especially if you used a professional cleaning service rather than doing it yourself — and be open to reasonable compromise. Many disputes resolve here — faster and with more control over the outcome than formal adjudication.
How mydeposits Adjudicators Approach Cleaning Claims
The core principles are identical across all schemes. But mydeposits case studies reveal specific patterns — especially around mid-tenancy baselines and invoice breakdowns.
⚠️ The mid-tenancy baseline trap
If your landlord or agent arranges professional cleaning early in your tenancy, that new standard — not the original check-in — becomes your benchmark at checkout. This catches many tenants off guard. Keep records of any work done to the property after you move in.
The mid-tenancy baseline reset
When a post-check-in clean overrides the check-in report
CLAIMED
£250
AWARDED
£163 (65%)
CLAIMED
£250
AWARDED
£163 (65%)
The check-in showed the property was poorly cleaned. The tenant argued they left it cleaner than they found it — and the checkout report supported this. However, the agent arranged a professional deep clean 10 days after the tenancy started.
The adjudicator ruled the post-check-in cleaning reset the baseline. The standard at checkout wasn't the original check-in condition — it was the improved condition after the deep clean.
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The lesson: If your landlord or agent arranges cleaning early in your tenancy, that new standard becomes your benchmark. Keep records of any work done to the property after you move in — it may override the check-in report.
The professional clean that wasn't enough
When a receipt doesn't cover specific shortfalls
CLAIMED
Labour + seal
AWARDED
Labour (100%) + seal (80%)
CLAIMED
Labour + seal
AWARDED
Labour (100%) + seal (80%)
The tenant had the property professionally cleaned before moving out. The adjudicator accepted this. However, the mould on a washing machine seal was excessive and went beyond what cleaning could address — it needed replacing.
The adjudicator awarded full labour cost plus 80% of the seal replacement, allowing 20% for wear over the two-year tenancy.
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The lesson: A professional clean receipt helps enormously but doesn't make you untouchable. If specific shortfalls are evidenced with photographs, the adjudicator will award for those items individually.
The invoice breakdown that changed the award
Why itemised invoices matter for both sides
CLAIMED
Full invoice
AWARDED
Labour + call-out (100%) + materials (reduced)
CLAIMED
Full invoice
AWARDED
Labour + call-out (100%) + materials (reduced)
A contractor's invoice separately listed materials, labour, and a call-out fee. The landlord submitted this as evidence of the cost of remedial work.
The adjudicator applied fair wear and tear to the materials component only — labour and call-out fee were awarded in full because those costs exist regardless of the item's age.
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The lesson: If your landlord submits a single lump-sum invoice, argue that the adjudicator has no way to apply proportionate deductions. Itemised invoices help both sides — and the lack of one can work in your favour.
How Invoice Breakdowns Affect Your Award
mydeposits adjudicators pay close attention to invoice structure. The breakdown determines which costs get reduced for fair wear and tear and which are awarded in full.
How adjudicators break down invoices
Materials (e.g. seal, parts)
£45
WEAR APPLIED
Labour
£85
FULL AWARD
Call-out fee
£40
FULL AWARD
Total invoice: £170
Tenant pays: ~£150 (materials reduced)
Tactical tip: If your landlord submits a single lump-sum invoice with no breakdown, argue that the adjudicator has no way to apply proportionate wear and tear deductions. The lack of itemisation can work in your favour.
Product Lifespan Benchmarks
mydeposits publishes guidance on how long common rental items are expected to last. Reference these in your evidence — adjudicators use them when calculating proportionate wear and tear awards.
Carpet (mid-range)
5–8 years
High-traffic areas wear faster. Hallways may be 3–5 years.
Oven / hob
10–15 years
Cleaning is separate from replacement — but age affects what's claimable.
Interior emulsion paint
3–5 years
Shorter in kitchens and bathrooms. Marks on fresh paint cost more.
Bathroom sealant
3–5 years
Discolouration after 3+ years is ageing, not a cleaning failure.
Show all 6 items
The Evidence That Wins mydeposits Disputes
MYDEPOSITS-SPECIFIC
Check-in report — and post-check-in records
Crucially, any evidence of work done after check-in. If the landlord arranged cleaning or repairs in the first weeks, those records reset the baseline. This is the single most important nuance at mydeposits. Read more about how checkout reports are compared to check-in reports.
Date-stamped photographs
Every room, appliance interior, every surface. mydeposits cases consistently turn on photographic evidence. Sharp, labelled, taken on your last day.
Professional cleaning receipt
Proves you met the obligation in good faith. Not sure whether you need one? See our guide on whether a landlord can demand a professional clean. If your cleaner offers a re-clean guarantee and you used it, document that too.
MYDEPOSITS-SPECIFIC
Product lifespan guide references
Reference mydeposits' own lifespan benchmarks in your submission. If the landlord claims £350 to replace near-end-of-life items, citing the scheme's figures strengthens your case. Understanding how wear and tear works across a tenancy lifecycle helps you frame this argument. Adjudicators use them — so should you.
Correspondence
Texts, emails, messages showing what was discussed and agreed. If the agent told you verbally you "didn't need to worry about cleaning," note the date and context.
Comparison quotes
If the landlord's cleaning cost seems inflated, alternative quotes from local companies help the adjudicator calibrate what's reasonable. Our guide to end of tenancy cleaning costs in London provides a useful benchmark.
Related Guides
The bottom line
mydeposits' case assessor stage creates a genuine opportunity to resolve your dispute before an adjudicator gets involved — faster and with more control. If the dispute does go to adjudication, the process is free, decisions typically come within 28 days, and the same principles apply: the deposit is yours until the landlord proves otherwise. Not sure how long your deposit return should take? Your deposit is your money. If the deduction isn't justified, don't accept it.
Deni is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in content marketing and vast knowledge in the cleaning business. He specializes in creating engaging content that drives growth and builds brand identity. Passionate about innovation, Deni believes in delivering value through impactful messaging and providing value to readers in a concise and comprehensive manner.
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