DIY InventoryRenting in Bolsover: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Bolsover can get help.
Homes to rent in Bolsover
Bolsover is a former coalfield district, and much of its housing is brick terraces and colliery houses built for the pits, alongside post-war council estates. Private renting is concentrated in the older terraces of the mining towns such as Shirebrook, where many former colliery homes were bought by landlords. Villages in the north-east, such as Whitwell and Barlborough, have stone cottages built of the local magnesian limestone. New estates are being built around Clowne, Bolsover and South Normanton near the M1.
Average rent: £692 a month (ONS, March 2026), up 7.0% 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 Bolsover homes
- Former colliery terraces in Shirebrook and Creswell: photograph damp at the base of walls, chimney breasts and back-yard walls and gates.
- Model village houses in Creswell: note original features, communal greens and any shared paths or alleys behind the homes.
- Stone cottages in Whitwell and Barlborough: photograph solid walls, any damp patches, window frames and open fireplaces or stoves.
- Older homes on former mining land: note any cracks in walls or ceilings and photograph them with a reference point so changes can be compared.
- New-build homes around Clowne and South Normanton: record snagging marks, sealant and the condition of new fences and gardens.
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 Bolsover District Council's private sector housing team.
Renting in Bolsover: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Bolsover?
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 Bolsover get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Bolsover District Council's private sector 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.