DIY InventoryRenting in Bassetlaw: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Bassetlaw can get help.
Homes to rent in Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw is a large rural district in north Nottinghamshire, centred on the towns of Worksop and Retford, with former mining settlements such as Harworth, Langold and Shireoaks. Housing is mainly brick terraces and ex-council estates in the towns and pit villages, with older cottages and farmhouses in the countryside. Prices are well below the England average, and private rented homes are mostly older terraces in Worksop and Retford.
Average rent: £718 a month (ONS, May 2026), up 2.9% 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 Bassetlaw homes
- Victorian terraces in Worksop and Retford: photograph back yards, rear doors, outhouses and any cellars for damp.
- Former mining villages: photograph any cracks in walls, sticking doors or uneven floors so later movement can be compared.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph oil tanks and the gauge reading, and the cover of any septic tank or treatment plant.
- Homes near the River Idle and the Trent: photograph the base of walls, airbricks and skirting boards for damp.
- Ex-council semis: photograph uPVC windows and doors, their locks and key counts, and garden fences and sheds.
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 Bassetlaw can contact Bassetlaw District Council’s private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home.
Renting in Bassetlaw: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Bassetlaw?
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 Bassetlaw get help?
Tenants in Bassetlaw can contact Bassetlaw District Council’s private sector housing team 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.