DIY InventoryRenting in Dacorum: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Dacorum can get help.
Homes to rent in Dacorum
Most of Dacorum's population lives in Hemel Hempstead, a post-war new town whose estates of terraces, maisonettes and flats make up much of the private rented stock, alongside office-to-flat conversions in the town centre. Berkhamsted, Tring and Kings Langley are older commuter towns with Victorian terraces and period cottages, and higher rents and prices. Rural Chilterns villages have flint and brick cottages, some listed. The council has estimated that the borough has several hundred HMOs.
Average rent: £1,577 a month (ONS Price Index of Private Rents, May 2026 release), up 2.3% 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 Dacorum homes
- New town maisonettes and flats in Hemel Hempstead: photograph communal doors, bin stores and any shared drying areas, and record the number of entry fobs and keys.
- Office-to-flat conversions in central Hemel Hempstead: photograph ventilation fans, trickle vents and any signs of condensation in small rooms.
- Victorian terraces in Berkhamsted and Tring: photograph sash windows, cords and locks, and any cracks or damp in cellars and chimney breasts.
- Flint and brick cottages in Chilterns villages: photograph low beams, uneven floors, open fireplaces and any wood-burner with its hearth and flue.
- Canal-side flats at Apsley, Berkhamsted and Kings Langley: photograph allocated parking bays, balcony surfaces and any damp near ground-floor walls.
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
Private tenants can contact Dacorum Borough Council's private housing team about disrepair or unsafe conditions, and can report a suspected unlicensed HMO online. Dacorum Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Dacorum: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Dacorum?
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 Dacorum get help?
Private tenants can contact Dacorum Borough Council's private housing team about disrepair or unsafe conditions, and can report a suspected unlicensed HMO online.
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.
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