DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Birmingham
Birmingham has one of the largest private rented sectors in England, with more than one in five households renting privately. The inner wards are dominated by Victorian terraces, many let as family homes or shared houses, while the city centre and Digbeth have seen large numbers of new apartment blocks. Selly Oak and the areas around the universities have a concentration of student HMOs. Every HMO in the city now needs a licence, and most rented homes in 25 wards need a selective licence.
Homes sold in Birmingham in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 2,798 | £228,218 |
| Semi-detached | 2,540 | £283,603 |
| Flat or maisonette | 1,275 | £159,464 |
| Detached | 736 | £505,445 |
| Other | 285 | £633,074 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
What to check at a Birmingham check-in
- Student shared houses in Selly Oak: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and alarms, and the condition of the shared kitchen and bathroom at the start and end of each academic year.
- City centre apartment blocks: record fob and key counts, the parking space or bike store, and the intercom, and note any communal-area damage separately.
- Victorian terraces in the inner wards: check and photograph damp at the base of walls, cellar condition, back-yard walls and outside toilets or stores.
- Converted villas in Edgbaston and Moseley: photograph high ceilings, cornicing and original features, and the shared hallway and meters.
- Warehouse conversions in the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth: note exposed brick, metal windows and any condensation or mould around them.
- New-build homes at Longbridge and other regeneration sites: record snagging marks, sealant, and whether the extractor fans and heating controls work.
Do it yourself in Birmingham
- No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
- £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
- The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
- Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.
Inventories in Birmingham: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Birmingham?
Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.
What is the average rent in Birmingham?
£1,086 a month (ONS, April 2026), up 3.3% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Birmingham postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Birmingham?
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers 25 of the city's 69 wards: most privately rented homes in those wards need a licence. The scheme started on 5 June 2023 and runs until 4 June 2028. Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers every ward in the city: smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants need a licence. In force from 5 June 2023 until 4 June 2028. Larger HMOs need a mandatory licence as everywhere in England. Fees: £700 for a selective licence, paid in two parts (council page) Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Birmingham?
Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.
Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?
Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.
Ready when you have the keys
Start your Birmingham inventory today, on your phone. It’s free until you download it.
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