DIY InventoryRenting in Hull: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hull can get help.
Homes to rent in Hull
Hull is a port city on the Humber with some of the lowest rents and house prices in England and a large share of renting: nearly a quarter of households rent privately and more than a quarter rent from the council or housing associations. Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many in narrow side streets off the main roads, hold much of the private rented stock, along with the Avenues' large houses split into flats and student lets near the university. Big post-war estates such as Bransholme and Orchard Park ring the city, and the Old Town and marina have converted warehouses and new flats. Much of the city is low-lying.
Average rent: £694 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 7.4% 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 Hull homes
- Low-lying homes across the city: look for signs of past flooding (Hull flooded badly in 2007) or damp in ground-floor rooms, and photograph airbricks and skirting boards.
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces off Hessle Road, Anlaby Road and Holderness Road: check for damp at the base of walls, and photograph yards and shared passages.
- Student shared houses near Cottingham Road: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen appliances.
- Large houses split into flats in the Avenues: photograph each flat's meters, door entry system and the shared hallway and stairs.
- Converted warehouses and flats in the Old Town and marina: note fob and key counts, lifts and bin stores, and look for condensation around large windows.
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 Hull City Council's private housing environmental health team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Hull City Council: private renting.
Renting in Hull: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hull?
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 Hull get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Hull City Council's private housing environmental health 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.