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North East · DH1, DH2, DH3, DH6, DH7, DH8

Inventory and check-in reports in County Durham

County Durham has a large stock of former colliery terraces in towns and villages such as Stanley, Horden, Easington and Ferryhill, many of them now privately rented and some long-term empty. Durham City has a big student market, with Victorian terraces turned into HMOs and purpose-built student blocks. Post-war new towns at Newton Aycliffe and Peterlee have planned estates, while Teesdale and Weardale in the west have stone cottages and farmhouses. House prices are among the lowest in England.

Average rent£653£653 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.1% on a year earlier Source
Average house price£141,000£141,000 (UK HPI, August 2026, provisional), up 4.9% on a year earlier Source
Homes sold, last 12 months6,141Average price paid £162,218 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately17.1%17.1% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 12.6% in 2011 Source
Council tax£2,622£2,622 average Band D (2026/27), including police, fire and parish precepts Source
Landlord licensingSome areasWhat it means for you

Homes sold in County Durham in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Terraced2,785£104,105
Semi-detached1,827£152,931
Detached1,113£291,458
Flat or maisonette230£107,344
Other186£418,063

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.

What to check at a County Durham check-in

  • Colliery terraces in former mining villages: photograph back yards, outhouses, rear lanes and any damp in the back kitchen or on chimney breasts.
  • Former mining areas: note any cracks in walls and around frames so ground movement can be compared at check-out.
  • Student HMOs in Durham City: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and every shared appliance separately.
  • Stone cottages in Teesdale and Weardale: check solid walls for damp, record the oil tank level, wood burners and any private water supply.
  • Coastal homes at Seaham: look for salt corrosion on metal frames, gates and outdoor fittings.
  • Long-empty terraces brought back into use: record the condition of every room in detail, including windows, doors and the boiler.

Do it yourself in County Durham

  • No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
  • £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
  • The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
  • Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.

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Neighbourhoods

Areas of County Durham

Durham CityChester-le-StreetConsettStanleyBishop AucklandNewton AycliffePeterleeSeahamBarnard CastleSpennymoor

Letting in County Durham

Licensing, safety certificates, deposits and the local figures, for landlords.

Renting in County Durham

Your check-in, getting your deposit back, and where to get help locally.

Free property report

EPC, sold prices, crime, flood risk and rental yield for any County Durham postcode.
Questions

Inventories in County Durham: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in County Durham?

Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.

What is the average rent in County Durham?

£653 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.1% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any County Durham postcode.

Do landlords need a licence in County Durham?

Selective licensing: Selective licensing in 103 of the county's 324 small areas (LSOAs), covering about 42% of privately rented homes, from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. A new scheme from 1 April 2027 was consulted on (closed 12 August 2026). Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in County Durham?

Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.

Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?

Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.

Nearby

Nearby areas

NorthumberlandGatesheadSunderlandHartlepoolStockton-on-TeesDarlingtonNorth YorkshireWestmorland and FurnessAll areas

Ready when you have the keys

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