Tenant deposit guide
How to get your deposit back in Manchester.
Your deposit is protected by law and disputes are decided on evidence. Here is how the schemes work, what a landlord can and cannot deduct, and how to protect your money.
Written from 1,000+ Manchester checkouts. Deposit-back guarantee on every clean we do.
The basics
Where your deposit sits, and why it matters.
On an assured shorthold tenancy your deposit must be protected in one of three government-approved schemes within 30 days: the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) or MyDeposits. You should be given the prescribed information telling you which scheme holds it.
At the end of the tenancy the deposit is returned minus any deductions you agree. Where you cannot agree, every scheme runs a free adjudication service that decides the disputed amount on the evidence.
What can be deducted
What a landlord can and cannot deduct.
A deduction has to be reasonable, evidenced and proportionate. A landlord can charge for cleaning only where the property is not returned to the cleanliness standard set out in the inventory, and for damage beyond fair wear and tear. They cannot charge you to put the property in a better state than you found it.
A blanket clause requiring professional cleaning at the end of the tenancy, on its own, was banned by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Cleaning can still be charged where the property genuinely is not clean, but not as a default fee.
- Deductions must be reasonable, evidenced and proportionate
- Fair wear and tear cannot be charged for
- A default professional-cleaning fee was banned by the Tenant Fees Act 2019
- Cleaning is chargeable only if the property is not returned to inventory standard
Protecting your deposit
The evidence that wins a dispute.
Read your check-in inventory the day you move in and photograph every room, matching the angles. Do the same when you leave. Clean to the inventory standard, and if you book a professional, keep the invoice. That paperwork is exactly what an adjudicator wants to see.
Cleaning is the single most common cause of deposit deductions in the UK, and it is the easiest to defend against with a checkout clean and a paper trail. Our printable checklist covers every line an inventory clerk checks.
If it goes to dispute
Using the free adjudication.
Raise it with your landlord or letting agent first. If you cannot agree, use the scheme free dispute service. Provide your check-in inventory, the checkout report, your dated before-and-after photos and any cleaning invoice. The adjudicator decides, and the disputed amount is held by the scheme until it is resolved.
Customer Reviews
What Our Customers Say
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Recent feedback from tenants, landlords, and letting agents across Manchester.
Really thorough deep clean. The team worked hard throughout and left the property finished to a very high standard. I would happily book again.
We booked an end of tenancy clean and were very pleased with the result. Communication was quick and helpful throughout, and extra effort was made to get everything completed before the tenancy ended.
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FAQ
Deposit questions
What Manchester tenants ask about getting their money back.
How long does a landlord have to return my deposit?
Once you have agreed any deductions, the deposit should be returned within 10 days. If there is a dispute, the disputed amount is held by the scheme until it is resolved.
Can my landlord charge me for professional cleaning?
Only if the property is not returned to the cleanliness standard in the inventory. A default professional-cleaning clause on its own was banned by the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
What counts as fair wear and tear?
Reasonable use over time: lightly worn carpets, small scuffs, faded paint. It is not the same as damage or dirt, and you cannot be charged for it.
What evidence do I need to dispute a deduction?
Your check-in inventory, the checkout report, dated before-and-after photos, and any cleaning invoice. Adjudicators decide on evidence, so the more you have the stronger your case.
Which deposit scheme holds my money?
One of the three government-approved schemes: TDS, DPS or MyDeposits. Your prescribed information tells you which.
Is cleaning really the most common deduction?
Yes. Cleaning is the single most common cause of deposit deductions in the UK, and it is the easiest to avoid with a checkout clean and a paper trail.