DIY InventoryRenting in Chesterfield: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Chesterfield can get help.
Homes to rent in Chesterfield
Chesterfield's housing is mostly Victorian and early 20th-century terraces near the centre, with large inter-war and post-war estates, a sizeable council-owned stock, and mining-era terraces in Staveley and Hasland. House prices are well below the national average and private renting is mainly two and three-bedroom terraces and semis. Some HMOs exist around the town centre and Brampton. New homes are being built on former industrial land at Staveley and along the Chesterfield Canal.
Average rent: £754 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 2.4% 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 Chesterfield homes
- Victorian terraces in Brampton and Newbold: photograph the cellar for damp, the back yard and any shared passageway or gennel.
- Older terraces: check sash or replacement windows, chimney breasts and loft hatches for signs of leaks.
- Former mining areas such as Staveley and Hasland: photograph any cracks in walls and around frames so movement can be compared later.
- Flats above shops in the town centre: note the separate entrance, stairs, fire alarm and meter cupboard locations.
- Post-war semis and former council houses: record gardens, fences, sheds and the boiler and consumer unit.
- HMOs near the centre: photograph each room's lock and fire door and note shared kitchen appliances one by one.
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 in private rented homes can report disrepair or unsafe conditions to Chesterfield Borough Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and enforce standards. Chesterfield Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Chesterfield: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Chesterfield?
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 Chesterfield get help?
Tenants in private rented homes can report disrepair or unsafe conditions to Chesterfield Borough Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and enforce standards.
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.
Nearby areas
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