DIY InventoryRenting in Boston: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Boston can get help.
Homes to rent in Boston
Boston is a market town and port surrounded by flat fenland farming country, and its private rented sector is large for a rural district, driven by agricultural and food-processing work. Many older terraces and town houses in central Boston are let, some as shared houses. The surrounding villages have brick cottages, bungalows and post-war estates, with some tied and farm cottages. Much of the borough is low-lying and protected by flood defences.
Average rent: £809 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.2% 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 Boston homes
- Older town houses near the centre let as shared houses: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and alarms, and the shared kitchen and bathroom.
- Flats over shops in the Market Place and Strait Bargate: note the separate entrance, the stairs and how many keys are handed over.
- Low-lying fenland homes: photograph any signs of damp, past flooding or tide marks, and note where the stopcock and electricity meter are.
- Farm and rural cottages: record any oil tank, septic tank or cesspit and the condition of outbuildings.
- Bungalows in the villages: photograph gardens, drives, garages and any adaptations such as grab rails.
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 Boston Borough Council's private sector housing team. Boston Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Boston: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Boston?
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 Boston get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Boston Borough 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.