DIY InventoryRenting in Huntingdonshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Huntingdonshire can get help.
Homes to rent in Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a large, mainly rural district in western Cambridgeshire, with the market towns of Huntingdon, St Neots, St Ives, Ramsey and Godmanchester and many villages. Most homes are owner-occupied semis and detached houses on estates built since the 1960s, when the towns grew to take London overspill, alongside historic centres with period houses. Large new developments are being built at Alconbury Weald and around St Neots. RAF and US Air Force bases and commuting to Cambridge and London add to rental demand.
Average rent: £1,057 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.7% 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 Huntingdonshire homes
- Riverside homes in St Ives, Huntingdon, Godmanchester and St Neots: look for signs of past flooding from the Great Ouse or damp in ground-floor rooms.
- Fen-edge homes around Ramsey and Somersham: check for cracks and sticking doors that can come from shrinking clay or peat soils.
- Period houses in the old town centres: record sash windows, beams, open fireplaces and damp at the base of walls.
- New-build homes at Alconbury Weald and Loves Farm: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.
- Post-war estate houses in Huntingdon and St Neots: record the boiler, windows and doors, and the state of gardens, sheds and fencing.
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 Huntingdonshire District Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Huntingdonshire District Council: private renting.
Renting in Huntingdonshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Huntingdonshire?
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 Huntingdonshire get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Huntingdonshire District Council's environmental health (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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your Huntingdonshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
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