DIY InventoryRenting in East Devon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in East Devon can get help.
Homes to rent in East Devon
East Devon is mostly rural and coastal, with owner-occupation high and a large retired population in the seaside towns. Private lets range from flats in converted Victorian and Regency houses in Exmouth and Sidmouth to modern homes in Cranbrook and on the Exeter fringe, and cottages in villages. Many older rural homes are of cob or stone, some thatched and some off the gas grid. Holiday lets and second homes are common along the Jurassic Coast.
Average rent: £968 a month (ONS, August 2026, provisional), up 6.0% 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 East Devon homes
- Seafront flats in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Seaton: photograph window frames, metal fittings and external doors for salt corrosion, and any damp on outside walls.
- Cob and stone cottages: photograph walls inside for damp patches, flaking limewash and cracks, and note what the tenant is told about breathable finishes.
- Homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank, its gauge and the oil level, or the LPG tank, and the boiler service label.
- Thatched properties: photograph the thatch from the ground, the chimney and any smoke alarms and fire safety notes left for the tenant.
- New-build homes in Cranbrook: photograph snagging marks, the meter cupboards and any district heating meter reading.
- Flats in converted Regency and Victorian houses: photograph the sash windows, the communal hall and the bin and bike stores, and note key and fob counts.
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 safety problems can contact East Devon District Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect rented homes and take action against landlords. East Devon District Council: private renting.
Renting in East Devon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in East Devon?
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 Devon get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact East Devon District Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect rented homes and take action against landlords.
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.