DIY InventoryRenting in Cumberland: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Cumberland can get help.
Homes to rent in Cumberland
Cumberland covers Carlisle, the west Cumbrian coast and the northern Lake District. Rents and prices are low by national standards, and much of the private rented stock is older terraced housing in the coastal towns and Carlisle, some of it solid-walled and hard to heat. Demand from contractors at Sellafield keeps the rental market busy around Whitehaven, Egremont and Seascale, while Keswick and the national park villages have many second homes and holiday lets. Parts of Carlisle, Cockermouth and Keswick have flooded badly in the past.
Average rent: £666 a month (ONS, May 2026), up 6.9% 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 Cumberland homes
- Solid stone and brick terraces on the west coast: photograph any damp patches, mould in corners and condensation round windows, room by room.
- Homes near the rivers in Carlisle, Cockermouth and Keswick: note any flood boards, air-brick covers or sump pumps and photograph that they are present and working.
- Rural cottages off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank, its gauge reading and the boiler, or any solid-fuel stove and its hearth.
- Coastal homes in Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven: photograph external paint, window frames and metal fittings for salt and wind damage.
- Contractor lets near Sellafield: count and photograph every key and fob and the furniture in each bedroom, as these are often furnished rooms or whole-house lets.
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, damp or unsafe conditions can contact Cumberland Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take enforcement action under its private sector housing enforcement policy. Cumberland Council: private renting.
Renting in Cumberland: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Cumberland?
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 Cumberland get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions can contact Cumberland Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take enforcement action under its private sector housing enforcement policy.
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.