DIY InventoryRenting in Charnwood: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Charnwood can get help.
Homes to rent in Charnwood
Loughborough, home to Loughborough University, has a large student rental market, with many Victorian terraces near the campus let as shared houses and a growing number of purpose-built student blocks. South of the borough, Birstall, Thurmaston and Syston are suburbs of Leicester with inter-war and post-war family homes. Shepshed and the villages around Charnwood Forest mix older stone and brick cottages with large new-build estates.
Average rent: £957 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 3.8% 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 Charnwood homes
- Student houses in Loughborough: photograph each bedroom's lock and door, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen separately.
- Victorian terraces near the town centre: check sash or replacement windows, rear extensions, back yards and any damp in cellars.
- Furnished student lets: list and photograph every item of furniture, with mattress condition and fire labels, and note bins and recycling at check-out.
- New-build estates in Shepshed and Syston: note snagging marks, sealant around baths and showers, and new garden fences.
- Homes near the River Soar and its brooks: photograph ground floors and gardens for signs of damp or past flooding.
- Stone cottages around Charnwood Forest: photograph beams, fireplaces, wood burners and any damp in thick walls.
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 Charnwood Borough Council's private sector housing team. Charnwood Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Charnwood: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Charnwood?
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 Charnwood get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Charnwood 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.