Check a Deposit Deduction List Against What You Paid — Free
A deposit deduction list is a set of figures with a total, and the total is where the argument always starts. Working through the same list item by item shows which line is carrying the number, and whether the claimed deductions exceed the deposit at all.
The proof surface
Free path: the tool computes locally in this browser with no key and no account. Where an AI step helps, any free chat assistant works — free tiers exist (Google AI Studio, Groq), but plans and limits change, so check the provider's own page. No third-party service is claimed here as verified: UNCONFIRMED — model has no browsing access this session.
Why the flat version breaks
Damage is rarely the whole story: cleaning, redecorating, gardening and admin fees are commonly claimed on top of it. Sorting the deductions by size and running them against the deposit makes the biggest single claim visible, which is the one to ask for evidence about.
How to use the deposit deduction gauge in four passes
The deposit scheme holds the money and issues the statement, which shows what was protected and what has been proposed. The landlord's own letter may be out of date.
An invoice, a photograph, an inventory line or nothing. Recording the evidence — including its absence — is what turns the list into a set of questions.
The gauge sorts dearest first because that is the line carrying the number. A single large redecoration claim is usually worth challenging; a small accepted breakage usually is not.
If the claimed deductions exceed the deposit held, that is a specific and checkable point. Enter the deductions as they stand, then re-run the gauge against the scheme's decision when it comes.
SAMPLE DATA, NOT A VERIFIED CLAIM: the starter record is six deductions totalling 1,095 dollars against a 1,200 dollar deposit, with two lines unsupported by any receipt. Replace these values with your own source before you rely on anything.
What breaks first
Accepting the total and moving on
Totals invite acceptance; line items invite questions. The same withheld figure split into six lines is usually two lines worth arguing about and four that are fair.
Assuming cleaning and admin fees are automatically valid
Whether they are valid depends on the agreement, the inventory and your local rules. Ask for the clause and the receipt, and record the answer next to the line.
Disputing everything at once
A dispute that challenges every line takes longer and looks less credible. Challenge the largest two or three with evidence, and accept the rest.
What you pay otherwise
| The usual route | What it leaves out | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Accepting an inflated deduction | Money withheld that a receipt or an inventory photograph would have reversed | the withheld amount |
| A claims service | Percentage of the recovered deposit for submitting a dispute you can file yourself | 20–30% of the return |
| A tenancy dispute without dates | A dispute filed on recollection, missing the scheme's evidence deadline | the deposit |
| This page + the free deposit deduction gauge | Computed in your tab, result on screen before you type anything | $0 |
Try the free deposit deduction gauge right here
Load the starter deductions and set the deposit to 800 to watch the crossing point move up the list.
FIRST-LOAD · sample record filed
Take it into the free deposit deduction gauge
The companion app runs the same logic with a numbered intake, three starter records, a stateful share link, the one-time printable layer, and the local history shelf.
Open the free deposit deduction gauge →Keep the work if you will use it again
The full gauge: every deduction sorted dearest first, the running total against the deposit held and the crossing line flagged, unlimited re-runs.
The on-screen result is free and complete. The one-time layer adds a tangible file you keep and the saved history that comes with it.
Boundary: This organises figures and evidence you enter; it is not legal advice and it does not decide whether a deduction is lawful. Deposit protection, dispute deadlines and what may be deducted are set by your tenancy agreement and by the scheme or the law in your jurisdiction — check the scheme's dispute process and its deadlines, and take advice from a tenant advisory service if the amount is significant.