DIY InventoryRenting in Chorley: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Chorley can get help.
Homes to rent in Chorley
Chorley is a market town with Victorian mill-workers' terraces near the centre and a mix of former mining and mill villages around it. Since the 2000s Buckshaw Village has added thousands of new-build homes, many of them let privately to commuters to Preston, Manchester and Bolton. The east of the borough runs up to the West Pennine Moors, with stone cottages and farmhouses in villages such as Rivington and Brinscall. Much of the private rented stock is two and three-bedroom terraces and newer semis.
Average rent: £798 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 7.1% 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 Chorley homes
- Victorian terraces in Chorley town: photograph the back yard, outhouse and any shared ginnel, plus damp on chimney breasts and in the cellar.
- New-build homes at Buckshaw Village: record allocated parking, any open snagging, smart meters and the estate management charge details.
- Stone cottages near the West Pennine Moors: check solid walls for damp, wood burners, and any oil tank or LPG supply.
- Former mining villages such as Coppull: photograph any cracks around doors and windows so movement can be compared at check-out.
- Flats above shops in the town centre: note the separate entrance, fire alarm, meter cupboards and bin arrangements.
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 unsafe conditions in a private rented home can contact Chorley Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team.
Renting in Chorley: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Chorley?
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 Chorley get help?
Tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions in a private rented home can contact Chorley Council's environmental health (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.
Nearby areas
South RibbleBlackburn with DarwenBoltonWiganWest LancashireAll areas