DIY InventoryRenting in Erewash: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Erewash can get help.
Homes to rent in Erewash
Erewash is centred on two former industrial towns, Ilkeston and Long Eaton, where Victorian and Edwardian terraces make up much of the rented stock. Large post-war estates such as Kirk Hallam sit alongside newer private estates, while the villages between Derby and Nottingham are mostly owner-occupied semis and bungalows. Private renting is close to the Derbyshire average overall but higher in central Ilkeston, and the council has been working to bring unlicensed HMOs into licensing.
Average rent: £831 a month (ONS, March 2026), up 2.5% 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 Erewash homes
- Victorian terraces in Ilkeston and Long Eaton: photograph rear yards, outhouses, shared alleys (gennels) and any damp at the base of walls.
- Older terraced houses often have solid walls and small rear kitchens: check for condensation and mould in kitchens, bathrooms and back bedrooms.
- Homes near the Trent and the Erewash Canal in Sawley and Sandiacre: note any signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
- Post-war ex-council houses in Kirk Hallam: record the boiler, windows and doors, and the condition of gardens and fencing.
- Shared houses in Ilkeston town centre: photograph each room's lock, furniture and fire door, and note smoke alarms and the fire blanket.
- Village bungalows in Borrowash and Breaston: check garages, drives and garden sheds, which are often included in the let.
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 in a private let can contact Erewash Borough Council's private sector housing team (environmental health), after first telling their landlord. Erewash Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Erewash: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Erewash?
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 Erewash get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Erewash Borough Council's private sector housing team (environmental health), after first telling their landlord.
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.