DIY InventoryRenting in Calderdale: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Calderdale can get help.
Homes to rent in Calderdale
Calderdale's homes are largely stone-built Victorian terraces running along the steep Calder valley, from Halifax and Sowerby Bridge out to Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. Many old mills have been turned into apartments, and some valley towns have unusual 'top and bottom' houses where one home sits on top of another. North Halifax has large post-war estates, while Brighouse and Elland have seen newer building on old industrial sites. About one in five households rents privately, a share that has grown since 2011.
Average rent: £760 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 Calderdale homes
- Stone terraces on the valley sides: photograph damp patches on walls set into the hillside, especially in basements and ground-floor rooms.
- Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Todmorden sit beside the River Calder, which has flooded several times: note any flood-resilience fittings and photograph skirting boards and floors on ground levels.
- 'Top and bottom' houses and back-to-backs: record which entrance, bins and outside space belong to the let home.
- Converted mill apartments: photograph large window frames, communal areas, lifts and the number of fobs and keys handed over.
- Older terraces with solid stone walls: check for condensation and mould behind furniture and in corners of bedrooms.
- Hill farms and cottages above the valleys: photograph wood burners, oil tanks or private water and drainage where there is no mains supply.
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 with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Calderdale Council's private sector housing team through its private landlords and tenants pages. Calderdale Council: private renting.
Renting in Calderdale: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Calderdale?
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 Calderdale get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Calderdale Council's private sector housing team through its private landlords and tenants pages.
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.