Deposit Scheme ADR: Resolving Disputes Without Court

Which scheme holds your deposit?

There are three government-approved schemes in England and Wales: Deposit Protection Service (DPS) — a custodial scheme where DPS holds the money; Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) — insurance-based, landlord holds the money; and MyDeposits — also insurance-based. Your landlord must have told you which scheme within 30 days of receiving the deposit. If you do not know, search all three using your name and the property address.

ADR dispute process

Standard steps across all three schemes:

1. 1Raise a dispute through the scheme's online portal — both parties notified
2. 2Submit your evidence within the scheme's deadline (typically 10–14 days)
3. 3Landlord submits their evidence within the same period
4. 4Adjudicator reviews all submissions (no hearing, no telephone calls)
5. 5Decision issued within 4–6 weeks — specifies exact amount to each party
6. 6Deposit released according to the decision within 10 days

Evidence that ADR adjudicators want to see

Prepare these:

• ✓The tenancy agreement (shows deposit amount, cleaning obligations, end date)
• ✓Check-in inventory or schedule of condition with photographs
• ✓Check-out report or your own dated photographs of every room at move-out
• ✓Receipts or invoices if the landlord claims specific repair costs
• ✓Correspondence showing your attempts to resolve the dispute directly
• ✓Any professional cleaning receipt if the tenancy agreement required one

Common adjudicator decisions

Cleaning costs: awarded to the landlord only if the tenancy agreement requires professional cleaning AND a professional clean was done at the start. Repainting: rarely awarded — paint deterioration over a normal tenancy is fair wear and tear. Carpet replacement: only if damage (burns, stains) goes beyond normal wear for the tenancy length. Garden maintenance: only if the tenancy agreement assigns garden responsibility to the tenant and the garden was maintained at check-in.