DIY InventoryGuides for landlords and tenants
Practical help for tenants, landlords and agents: inventories, deposits, moving in and out, and the rules landlords must follow.
Inventories
How to do a check-in inventory yourself
A step-by-step guide to doing your own property check-in inventory on your phone: what to photograph, how to record condition, and how to get it signed.
How to photograph a rental property for an inventory
Practical tips for inventory photos that hold up later: light, angles, wide shots and close-ups, and the date and time on every photo.
Check-out inspections: comparing a property with the check-in
How to do a check-out inspection, compare each item with the check-in report, and record what has changed fairly.
Mid-tenancy inspection checklist for landlords
What to check during a routine inspection: damp, leaks, safety alarms, appliances and wear, room by room.
Furnished vs unfurnished inventory: what to include
What a furnished inventory lists that an unfurnished one doesn't, what both must cover, part-furnished lets, fire labels and how furniture affects deposits.
How much does an inventory cost? Clerk prices in 2026
Typical inventory clerk prices for check-ins, check-outs and inspections by property size, who has to pay under the Tenant Fees Act, and a £30 DIY option.
What is a property inventory? A plain guide for 2026
What a property inventory is, what goes in it, how it differs from a schedule of condition, who does it and whether you need one. Plain answers for UK lets.
Deposits and moving
Fair wear and tear vs damage: what’s the difference?
How inventories usually tell normal wear from damage, with examples for carpets, walls, furniture and appliances. General information, not legal advice.
Deposit Protection Rules: 30 Days, Caps and Penalties
Tenancy deposit protection rules in England: the 30-day deadline, prescribed information, the five-week cap and penalties of up to three times the deposit.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist: Room by Room
A room-by-room end of tenancy cleaning checklist: oven, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, floors and windows, plus what landlords can charge and how to prove it.
How to Dispute Deposit Deductions: TDS, DPS and mydeposits
Disagree with deposit deductions? How to challenge them step by step, the free TDS, DPS and mydeposits dispute services, deadlines and the evidence that wins.
Meter readings when moving house: gas, electric, water
Where to find your gas, electricity and water meters, how to read each type, the photos to take on moving day and how to tell suppliers you've moved.
Moving In Checklist for Tenants: What to Check on Day One
Moving into a rented home? What to check on day one: documents, meters, alarms, damp and a dated photo inventory of every room to protect your deposit.
Moving Out Checklist for Tenants: Get Your Deposit Back
Moving out of a rented home? A step-by-step checklist: notice, cleaning, repairs, meter readings, keys, photos and getting your tenancy deposit back in full.
What Can a Landlord Deduct From a Deposit? (2026 Guide)
What a landlord can and can’t deduct from a tenancy deposit in England: cleaning, damage, rent, wear and tear, apportionment and the evidence that counts.
Landlord rules
Damp and mould in rented homes: who fixes it?
Who is responsible for damp and mould in a rental, what landlords must do, whether Awaab's Law applies to private renting yet, and how dated photos help.
EPC rules for landlords: minimum E now, C by 2030
The minimum EPC rating for rental property, the £3,500 cost cap, exemptions and fines, and what the planned EPC C by 2030 means for landlords.
HMO inventory guide: room lets and communal areas
How to do an inventory for an HMO or room let: each tenant's room, the shared kitchen and bathrooms, alarms and meters, plus HMO licensing basics in England.
Landlord safety certificates: what you need and when
Gas Safety every 12 months, EICR every 5 years, an EPC rated E or above, alarms and legionella: what each costs, when it's due and what to give tenants.
Late rent letter to tenant: templates and sample wording
Sample wording for a friendly rent reminder, a formal late rent letter and a final letter, what you can charge, and why a Section 8 notice is a separate step.
Rent receipt guide: what to include, rent books, template
What a rent receipt must show, sample wording, when landlords in England must give a rent book (weekly rent), tax records, and free numbered receipts.
Renters' Rights Act: a landlord's guide (October 2026)
What the Renters' Rights Act changed from 1 May 2026, what's still planned (landlord database, ombudsman) and what landlords in England need to do now.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules for landlords
Where landlords must fit smoke and CO alarms in England, the day-one check, the £5,000 fine, and how the rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Templates and checklists
Free inventory template (PDF and Word)
A room-by-room check-in inventory to print or edit, plus check-out and inspection templates.
Inventory clerk, or do it yourself?
What a clerk does and costs, and doing the inventory yourself for £30.
Room-by-room inventory checklists
What to photograph in every room, with a tip for each item.
Do it on your phone
DIY Inventory gives every room its own photo checklist, stamps the date and time on every photo, and turns it into a professional PDF report. Free to start.
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