DIY InventoryRenting in Hartlepool: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hartlepool can get help.
Homes to rent in Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a coastal town and former port with some of the lowest house prices and rents in England. The older streets of Stranton, the Headland and near the town centre are dense Victorian terraces with back lanes, which make up much of the private rented stock, and earlier selective licensing schemes targeted some of these areas. Post-war council-built estates such as Owton Manor sit to the south, and newer estates have been built at Throston, Clavering and around the marina. Private renting rose between 2011 and 2021, though more slowly than across the North East.
Average rent: £558 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 0.3% 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 Hartlepool homes
- Victorian terraces with back lanes in Stranton and Oxford Road: photograph the rear yard, gate, bins and outbuildings, and check for damp at the base of walls.
- Seafront and Headland homes: look for salt corrosion on window frames, door furniture and outside metalwork, and damp on exposed walls.
- Marina apartments: note fob and key counts, parking spaces, lifts and bin stores, and look for condensation around large windows.
- Post-war estate houses in Owton Manor and Rossmere: record the boiler, windows and external doors, and the state of gardens and fencing.
- Empty or long-vacant terraced homes being re-let: photograph meters, signs of past leaks and any security boarding removed.
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 Hartlepool Borough Council's housing standards (private sector housing) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Hartlepool Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Hartlepool: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hartlepool?
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 Hartlepool get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Hartlepool Borough Council's housing standards (private sector housing) team, 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.