DIY InventoryRenting in Blaby: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Blaby can get help.
Homes to rent in Blaby
Blaby is a mostly owner-occupied district of suburbs and large villages on the south-west edge of Leicester, so private renting is a smaller share than in the city. Rented homes are mainly post-war and modern family houses, with some older terraces and cottages in village centres. The Lubbesthorpe garden village and other new estates are adding modern homes, some of them let. Commuters to Leicester and the M1 and M69 corridor make up much of the rental demand.
Average rent: £957 a month (ONS, November 2025), up 6.9% 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 Blaby homes
- New-build homes at Lubbesthorpe and other recent estates: photograph snagging marks, sealant around baths and showers, and fences and turf in new gardens.
- Post-war semis in Braunstone Town and Glen Parva: check and photograph replacement windows, garage doors and any damp or condensation in back bedrooms.
- Older cottages in Enderby, Narborough and Countesthorpe village centres: note uneven floors, low beams, chimney breasts and any damp at the base of walls.
- Bungalows let to older tenants in Kirby Muxloe and Countesthorpe: record grab rails, ramps and the condition of gardens, paths and drives.
- Family homes with gardens: photograph sheds, fences, patios and the lawn, and list any garden tools or furniture left for the tenant.
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 Blaby District Council's environmental health (private housing) team. Blaby District Council: private renting.
Renting in Blaby: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Blaby?
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 Blaby get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Blaby District Council's environmental health (private housing) team.
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.
Nearby areas
LeicesterOadby and WigstonHarboroughHinckley and BosworthAll areas