DIY InventoryRenting in Halton: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Halton can get help.
Homes to rent in Halton
Halton is made up of the two towns of Widnes and Runcorn on either side of the Mersey, linked by the Silver Jubilee and Mersey Gateway bridges. The older streets near both town centres and at West Bank are Victorian terraces, which hold much of the private rented stock, while Runcorn has large new town estates of the 1960s and 1970s with footpath layouts and many terraced homes. Private renting is lower than across the North West but grew quickly between 2011 and 2021.
Average rent: £719 a month (ONS, December 2025), up 5.6% 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 Halton homes
- Victorian terraces in Widnes and Runcorn Old Town: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and back entries.
- New town houses in Palacefields, Windmill Hill and Castlefields: record flat roofs, garages or car ports, communal footpaths and fencing.
- Homes near the Mersey at West Bank and Hale: look for signs of damp or past flooding in ground-floor rooms.
- Flats above shops in the town centres: photograph the separate entrance, stairs, fire alarm and meter cupboards.
- Newer homes at Sandymoor: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.
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 Halton Borough Council's housing standards team (environmental health), after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Halton Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Halton: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Halton?
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 Halton get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Halton Borough Council's housing standards team (environmental health), after first reporting the problem to 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.
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