DIY InventoryRenting in Cherwell: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Cherwell can get help.
Homes to rent in Cherwell
Cherwell's two towns, Banbury and Bicester, have grown fast, with large new-build estates on their edges and garden town development around Bicester. Banbury has Victorian terraces in Grimsbury and post-war estates to the west, while Kidlington provides suburban homes close to Oxford. The north of the district has villages of honey-coloured ironstone cottages, many listed. Heyford Park, on a former RAF base, includes former service housing and new homes.
Average rent: £1,304 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.2% 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 Cherwell homes
- Ironstone cottages in the northern villages: photograph soft stone, window sills, beams and any damp at the base of walls.
- New-build homes in Bicester and Banbury: note snagging marks, sealant around baths and showers, and new garden fences and turf.
- Former service houses at Heyford Park: record heating systems, windows and the condition of shared green spaces and parking.
- Victorian terraces in Grimsbury: photograph rear extensions, back yards and any damp in older walls.
- Rural homes without mains gas: photograph oil tanks, LPG bottles and any septic tank or treatment plant.
- Homes near the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal: check ground floors and gardens for signs of damp or past flooding.
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 Cherwell District Council's private sector housing team. Cherwell District Council: private renting.
Renting in Cherwell: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Cherwell?
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 Cherwell get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Cherwell District 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.