DIY Inventory

← All areas

Cambridgeshire · CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5

Inventory and check-in reports in Cambridge

Cambridge has one of the highest shares of private renting in the East of England, driven by its universities, research campuses and hospital. Victorian terraces in Romsey, Petersfield and Chesterton are widely let as shared houses and flats, while the north of the city has post-war estates. Large new-build districts at Trumpington, Clay Farm, Eddington and around the station have added many modern flats. Rents and prices are among the highest outside London.

Average rent£1,805£1,805 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 1.8% on a year earlier Source
Average house price£475,000£475,000 (UK HPI, July 2026, provisional), roughly flat on a year earlier Source
Homes sold, last 12 months861Average price paid £599,056 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately31.4%31.4% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 26.2% in 2011 Source
Council tax£2,467£2,467 average Band D including county, police, fire and combined authority precepts (2026/27) Source
Landlord licensingNoneWhat it means for you

Homes sold in Cambridge in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Terraced327£555,141
Flat or maisonette242£328,886
Semi-detached183£617,665
Detached85£1,159,523
Other24£1,794,735

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.

What to check at a Cambridge check-in

  • Shared houses in Romsey and Petersfield: photograph each bedroom's lock and door, the fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen separately.
  • Victorian terraces: check sash or replacement windows, chimney breasts and any damp or mould in rear extensions and bathrooms.
  • New-build flats around the station, Trumpington and Eddington: record fob and key counts, bike store access, the post box and any snagging marks.
  • Bicycles are everywhere: photograph bike sheds, racks and gates and note anything left behind at check-out.
  • Furnished student and professional lets: list and photograph every item of furniture, with mattress condition and labels.
  • Homes near the Cam and its streams: photograph ground-floor rooms and gardens for signs of damp or past flooding.

Do it yourself in Cambridge

  • No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
  • £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
  • The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
  • Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.

Start free Example report

Neighbourhoods

Areas of Cambridge

Mill Road and RomseyPetersfieldChestertonArbury and King's HedgesCherry HintonNewnhamTrumpington and Clay FarmEddington

Letting in Cambridge

Licensing, safety certificates, deposits and the local figures, for landlords.

Renting in Cambridge

Your check-in, getting your deposit back, and where to get help locally.

Free property report

EPC, sold prices, crime, flood risk and rental yield for any Cambridge postcode.
Questions

Inventories in Cambridge: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in Cambridge?

Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.

What is the average rent in Cambridge?

£1,805 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 1.8% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Cambridge postcode.

Do landlords need a licence in Cambridge?

Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme. A council feasibility study concluded selective licensing was not an appropriate tool for Cambridge at that time. Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme. Larger HMOs (five or more people from more than one household) need a mandatory licence, as everywhere in England; the city has several hundred licensed HMOs. Fees: £1,133 for a mandatory HMO licence, or £1,000 when renewing at least eight weeks before the current licence expires (applications from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in Cambridge?

Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.

Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?

Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.

Nearby

Nearby areas

South CambridgeshireAll areas

Ready when you have the keys

Start your Cambridge inventory today, on your phone. It’s free until you download it.

Start free