DIY InventoryRenting in Cornwall: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Cornwall can get help.
Homes to rent in Cornwall
Cornwall's housing ranges from granite and slate cottages in fishing villages to Victorian mining-town terraces and large post-war and modern estates around Truro, St Austell, Bodmin and Camborne. Holiday lets and second homes are a big part of the market in coastal towns such as St Ives, Padstow and Newquay, which squeezes long-term private renting. Falmouth and Penryn have many student lets for Falmouth University. Many rural homes are off the gas grid, with oil, LPG or electric heating, and solid-walled stone houses are prone to damp.
Average rent: £995 a month (ONS, September 2026), about the same as 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 Cornwall homes
- Granite and stone cottages: photograph solid walls and window reveals for damp and mould, and the condition of slate roofs visible from outside.
- Off-grid homes: record the oil tank or LPG gauge reading, the boiler, any septic tank or private water supply, and wood burner condition.
- Coastal properties: look for salt corrosion on window frames, door furniture, gates and outdoor lights, and wind damage to fences.
- Student lets in Falmouth and Penryn: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Former mining areas around Camborne and Redruth: note any cracks in walls so ground movement can be compared later.
- Homes switched from holiday let to long-term let: list furniture, linen and kitchen items carefully, as inventories often change.
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 Cornwall Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and enforce standards. Cornwall Council: private renting.
Renting in Cornwall: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Cornwall?
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 Cornwall get help?
Tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions in a private rented home can contact Cornwall 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.