Deposit Deductions · mydeposits
Mould or Damp Deduction Under mydeposits? How to Dispute It
If your deposit is protected with mydeposits and your landlord is withholding money for mould or damp, the process and the arguments that work both depend on which scheme is involved. Here's what matters for your specific situation.
How mydeposits disputes actually work
mydeposits is insurance-based — your landlord or agent keeps hold of the deposit money throughout the tenancy, and mydeposits insures it. You raise a dispute through the mydeposits online service. Because the landlord already holds the funds, mydeposits directs the landlord to pay any awarded amount directly. If a landlord fails to comply, mydeposits' insurance-backed guarantee means you're still paid — through a separate claims process rather than releasing held funds.
Because the money never physically sits with mydeposits, a landlord going unresponsive or insolvent is more likely to require the insurance guarantee route than with a custodial scheme like DPS.
What the law says about mould or damp
Landlords are responsible for damp or mould caused by structural issues, poor insulation, or disrepair — a leaking roof, rising damp, or inadequate ventilation the landlord was responsible for fixing. Tenants are only liable for mould clearly caused by their own behaviour, such as not ventilating a room or drying laundry indoors without airflow, and even then the landlord must show that link, not just assume it.
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Check my case freeWhat to gather before you dispute it
For a mould or damp case with mydeposits, the evidence that actually moves the needle is photos of the mould, any repair requests you made during the tenancy, and whether the property had adequate extractor fans or ventilation. Without it, you're relying on the general legal principle alone — which still helps, but evidence wins disputes faster.
Frequently asked questions
- How does mydeposits handle a mould or damp dispute?
- You raise a dispute through the mydeposits online service. Because the landlord already holds the funds, mydeposits directs the landlord to pay any awarded amount directly. If a landlord fails to comply, mydeposits' insurance-backed guarantee means you're still paid — through a separate claims process rather than releasing held funds.
- Can my landlord charge me for mould or damp?
- Landlords are responsible for damp or mould caused by structural issues, poor insulation, or disrepair — a leaking roof, rising damp, or inadequate ventilation the landlord was responsible for fixing. Tenants are only liable for mould clearly caused by their own behaviour, such as not ventilating a room or drying laundry indoors without airflow, and even then the landlord must show that link, not just assume it.