DIY InventoryRenting in Burnley: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Burnley can get help.
Homes to rent in Burnley
Burnley's housing is dominated by Victorian terraced houses built for the cotton mills, many of them two-up two-down, and house prices are among the lowest in England. A large share of these terraces are privately rented, and some streets have high numbers of empty homes. The outer areas such as Briercliffe and Worsthorne have semis, newer houses and stone cottages. Check with the council whether any licensing scheme applies to a property before letting it.
Average rent: £631 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.9% 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 Burnley homes
- Victorian stone and brick terraces: photograph back yards, outside toilets or stores, gutters and any damp on party walls.
- Two-up two-down houses: photograph the boiler, meters (often in the cellar or under the stairs) and the cellar for damp.
- Cellar dwellings and basements: photograph walls and floors for damp and record any dehumidifier or pump.
- Stone cottages in Worsthorne and the moorland villages: photograph windows, roofs and walls for wind-driven rain damage.
- Converted mill buildings and flats above shops in the town centre: photograph the communal entrance, stairs and meter cupboards, and count every key and fob.
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 homes to Burnley Borough Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take action against landlords. Burnley Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Burnley: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Burnley?
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 Burnley get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe homes to Burnley Borough Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take action against landlords.
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.