DIY InventoryRenting in County Durham: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in County Durham can get help.
Homes to rent 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 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.1% 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 County Durham homes
- 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.
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 Durham County Council's housing standards team, which can inspect and enforce standards. Durham County Council: private renting.
Renting in County Durham: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in County Durham?
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 County Durham get help?
Tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions in a private rented home can contact Durham County Council's housing standards 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your County Durham home’s condition today, on your phone.
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