Renting in Great Yarmouth: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is a seaside and port town at the mouth of the Yare, with Gorleston across the river and a string of coastal and Broads villages. The central wards have dense Victorian terraces and large former guest houses, many converted into flats and shared homes, and a high share of private renting; this is where the selective licensing scheme applies. Gorleston and Bradwell have more interwar and post-war family housing, while the villages are mostly bungalows and holiday homes. Private renting grew faster than the regional average between 2011 and 2021.

Average rent: £839 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 8.1% on a year earlier. Source

On moving-in day

1. Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
2. Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
3. Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.

Things to look at in Great Yarmouth homes

• Former guest houses near the seafront converted into flats: photograph each flat's door, meters, fire doors, alarms and the shared hallway.
• Coastal homes: look for salt corrosion on window frames, door furniture and outside metalwork, and damp on exposed walls.
• Low-lying homes in Southtown and Cobholm: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
• Victorian terraces in Northgate and the town centre: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and rear access.
• Bungalows and chalets in Hemsby and Caister: record the roof, windows and heating, and note any coastal erosion warnings for the area.
• Homes in the selective licensing wards: note the licence number and check the licence conditions on smoke alarms and gas safety are met.

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 Great Yarmouth Borough Council's private sector housing team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Great Yarmouth Borough Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist