DIY InventoryRenting in Cheshire East: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Cheshire East can get help.
Homes to rent in Cheshire East
Cheshire East is a largely owner-occupied area of market towns and countryside, with private renting concentrated in Crewe and Macclesfield. Crewe has many Victorian terraces near the station and town centre, some converted to HMOs, which is why the council has used Article 4 directions there. The north of the borough (Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Poynton) has high-value detached homes and apartments, while rural parishes have farm cottages and converted barns. Large new-build estates have been added around Crewe, Sandbach, Congleton and Middlewich.
Average rent: £992 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 7.2% 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 Cheshire East homes
- Victorian terraces in Crewe: photograph the back yard, outbuildings and the condition of any rear extension roof.
- HMO lets near Crewe town centre: record each room's lock, fire door closers, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen appliances separately.
- Older stone and brick terraces in Macclesfield: check for damp on chimney breasts and party walls and photograph any mould around windows.
- Rural cottages and barn conversions: note oil tank or LPG gauge readings, septic tank access and the state of wood burners.
- New-build estates around Sandbach and Middlewich: photograph snagging items still open, and note any estate management or parking permits.
- Higher-value homes around Wilmslow and Knutsford: record gardens, gates, alarm codes and fitted appliances in detail.
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 or safety problems in a private rented home can contact Cheshire East Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take action against landlords.
Renting in Cheshire East: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Cheshire East?
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 Cheshire East get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety problems in a private rented home can contact Cheshire East 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your Cheshire East home’s condition today, on your phone.
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