DIY InventoryRenting in Birmingham: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Birmingham can get help.
Homes to rent 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.
Average rent: £1,086 a month (ONS, April 2026), up 3.3% 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 Birmingham homes
- 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.
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Birmingham City Council's private rented services team, which also runs the city's licensing schemes. Birmingham City Council: private renting.
Renting in Birmingham: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Birmingham?
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 Birmingham get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Birmingham City Council's private rented services team, which also runs the city's licensing schemes.
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.