23/06/2026
For landlords and agents wanting to understand what actually wins deposit disputes, the published data from TDS, DPS, and mydeposits is the source
What the schemes consistently report year on year:
- Cleaning is the most common dispute category
- Damage to walls, floors, and decor follows
- Most disputes split between tenant and landlord rather than going fully one way
- Inventories produced by an independent clerk carry significantly more weight than landlord-produced ones
The data is publicly available on each scheme’s website and is worth a read for anyone building or reviewing their inventory process.