DIY InventoryRenting in Babergh: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Babergh can get help.
Homes to rent in Babergh
Babergh is a rural district in south Suffolk, with the market towns of Sudbury and Hadleigh and many villages in the Stour valley and on the Shotley peninsula. It has a high share of listed and timber-framed buildings, especially in Lavenham, Long Melford and Hadleigh. Homes are mostly owner-occupied; rented homes range from terraces and flats in Sudbury to village cottages, and new estates have been built near Ipswich and Sudbury.
Average rent: £972 a month (ONS, May 2026), up 4.5% on a year earlier. Source
On moving-in day
- Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
- Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
- Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.
Things to look at in Babergh homes
- Timber-framed and listed cottages: photograph exposed beams, lime plaster walls and any cracks, and do not record repairs that would need listed building consent as tenant faults.
- Thatched roofs in villages: photograph the visible thatch, the ridge and any signs of birds or wear, and note fire safety equipment.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph oil tanks and the gauge level, and the access cover of any septic tank or treatment plant.
- Woodburners and open fires common in cottages: photograph the stove glass, the hearth and the date on the last sweep certificate.
- Older solid-walled homes: photograph window reveals, the bottom of walls and behind furniture for damp and mould.
Your deposit
Your landlord must protect your deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days and tell you which. At the end, deductions can only be for damage beyond fair wear and tear, cleaning back to the check-in standard, or rent owed. A dated check-in record is your best protection.
Help from the council
Tenants in Babergh can contact Babergh District Council’s private sector housing team (shared with Mid Suffolk) about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home. Babergh District Council: private renting.
Renting in Babergh: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Babergh?
Photograph every room and item before you unpack, with the date on each photo: walls, floors, windows, appliances, meters and keys. Note anything worn or damaged and get the landlord or agent to agree it in writing.
How do I get my deposit back?
Leave the home as you found it, allowing for fair wear and tear, and compare it with the check-in record. If you disagree with deductions, the deposit scheme’s free dispute service decides on the evidence.
Where can renters in Babergh get help?
Tenants in Babergh can contact Babergh District Council’s private sector housing team (shared with Mid Suffolk) about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home.
Can a tenant do the check-in inventory?
Yes. With DIY Inventory a tenant can do it on their phone and send the landlord a link to check and sign it, so both sides have the same dated record.