DIY InventoryRenting in Dorset: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Dorset can get help.
Homes to rent in Dorset
Dorset Council covers the county outside Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: market towns, coast and a large rural area with many thatched, cob and stone cottages, often listed or in conservation areas and off the gas grid. Weymouth has many Georgian and Victorian seafront houses converted to flats, and Portland has its own stone-built housing. Second homes and holiday lets are common on the coast, and there is military housing around Bovington, Blandford and Portland.
Average rent: £1,056 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.9% 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 Dorset homes
- Thatched cottages: photograph the thatch, ridge and any netting from the outside, and check smoke and heat alarms inside.
- Cob and stone cottages: photograph damp patches, lime render and any cracks, room by room.
- Seafront flats in Weymouth and Swanage: photograph window frames, balconies and metal fittings for salt corrosion.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank and gauge reading, the boiler, and any septic tank or private water supply.
- Homes near the coast at Lyme Regis and West Bay: photograph any cracks in walls and paths, as parts of this coast are unstable.
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 with disrepair or unsafe conditions can contact Dorset Council's housing standards team. Dorset Council: private renting.
Renting in Dorset: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Dorset?
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 Dorset get help?
Private tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions can contact Dorset Council's housing standards team.
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.