DIY InventoryRenting in High Peak: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in High Peak can get help.
Homes to rent in High Peak
High Peak covers the north-west of Derbyshire, much of it within the Peak District National Park, with Buxton in the south and Glossop and the former mill towns in the north. Most homes are built of local gritstone or limestone: Victorian terraces in the mill towns, Georgian and Victorian villas in Buxton, many converted into flats, and cottages and farmhouses in the villages. Winters are harsh at this height, and holiday lets are common in the Hope Valley. Private renting grew between 2011 and 2021 but stays below the regional average.
Average rent: £881 a month (ONS, November 2025), up 0.6% 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 High Peak homes
- Gritstone terraces in Glossop, New Mills and Hadfield: look for damp on thick stone walls, especially at the back where houses are built into the hillside.
- Hillside homes on steep streets: photograph steps, sloping paths, retaining walls and any cracking.
- Victorian villas in Buxton split into flats: photograph each flat's door, meters, fire doors and alarms, and the shared hallway and stairs.
- Homes at height in a cold climate: record the boiler, radiators, loft insulation and any frost damage to outside pipes, gutters or pointing.
- Homes near the Goyt and in Whaley Bridge: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
- Rural cottages and farmhouses: photograph the oil or LPG tank, any septic tank or private water supply, and wood burners and chimneys.
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 High Peak Borough Council's private sector housing (environmental health) service, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. High Peak Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in High Peak: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in High Peak?
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 High Peak get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact High Peak Borough Council's private sector housing (environmental health) service, 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.