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For tenantsRenting in East Cambridgeshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in East Cambridgeshire can get help.
Homes to rent in East Cambridgeshire
East Cambridgeshire is a rural district around the city of Ely, with fen towns and villages that have grown with new estates for people working in and around Cambridge. Older homes include brick terraces and cottages, some timber-framed or thatched, while large new-build estates in Ely, Soham and Littleport make up a growing share of rented homes. The south of the district near Newmarket has homes linked to the horse-racing industry, and many fen villages are off the gas grid.
Average rent: £1,029 a month (ONS, June 2026), about the same as a year earlier (up 0.5%). 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 East Cambridgeshire homes
- Homes on fen peat and clay: photograph cracks in walls, ceilings and door frames, since the ground shrinks and swells.
- New-build estates in Ely, Soham and Littleport: photograph any snagging, the meters and allocated parking, and note who maintains shared green spaces.
- Older cottages, some thatched: photograph the roof from outside, beams, uneven floors and any damp patches.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank and gauge reading, the boiler, and any septic tank or treatment plant.
- Riverside and fen homes near the Great Ouse: note any flood-protection products and photograph damp on low 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 with disrepair or unsafe conditions can contact East Cambridgeshire District Council's environmental health team. East Cambridgeshire District Council: private renting.
Renting in East Cambridgeshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in East Cambridgeshire?
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 East Cambridgeshire get help?
Private tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions can contact East Cambridgeshire District Council's environmental health 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your East Cambridgeshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
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