Renting in Hinckley and Bosworth: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Hinckley and Bosworth

Hinckley and Bosworth is a mostly rural borough in south-west Leicestershire, centred on Hinckley, a former hosiery and boot-making town, with Burbage, Earl Shilton and Barwell close by and villages such as Market Bosworth, Groby and Markfield to the north. The towns have Victorian terraces near their centres and large interwar, post-war and modern estates, while the villages are mostly owner-occupied semis, detached houses and bungalows. Private renting is below the regional average and is concentrated in Hinckley's terraced streets.

Average rent: £934 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.5% 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 Hinckley and Bosworth homes

• Victorian terraces in Hinckley, Earl Shilton and Barwell: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and shared rear passages.
• Shared homes in central Hinckley: photograph each room's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen, and note the HMO licence if there is one.
• Newer homes on the large estates at Barwell, Earl Shilton and Hinckley: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.
• Village cottages around Market Bosworth and Markfield: record beams, uneven floors, open fireplaces and chimneys, and any oil tank.
• Homes near the Ashby Canal and brooks: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.

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

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist