Renting in Herefordshire: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a rural county with Hereford as its only city and five market towns: Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Bromyard and Kington. Much of the rented stock is in Victorian terraces and post-war estates in Hereford and the towns, while the countryside has stone and timber-framed cottages, farmhouses and tied farm homes, many off the mains gas network. Seasonal farm work and a growing student population in Hereford add to demand for shared homes. Private renting rose between 2011 and 2021.

Average rent: £831 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 2.9% 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 Herefordshire homes

• Rural cottages off the gas network: photograph the oil tank and its gauge, the boiler or wood burner, and any septic tank or private water supply.
• Timber-framed houses in Ledbury, Leominster and the villages: record beams, uneven floors, low doorways and any cracks in infill panels.
• Homes near the Wye and the Lugg: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms, as these rivers flood often.
• Victorian terraces in Hereford: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and rear access.
• Stone cottages in the hills: photograph chimneys, slate roofs, deep window sills and any damp patches on thick walls.

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 Herefordshire Council's environmental health housing team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Herefordshire Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist