DIY InventoryRenting in Hyndburn: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hyndburn can get help.
Homes to rent in Hyndburn
Hyndburn is a former cotton-weaving borough in East Lancashire, made up of Accrington, Oswaldtwistle, Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Great Harwood and Rishton. Most homes are Victorian brick and stone terraces built for mill workers, many of them small and with back streets, and private renting is above the national average and grew sharply between 2011 and 2021. House prices are among the most affordable in England. Selective licensing covered parts of Accrington and Church until March 2023.
Average rent: £634 a month (ONS, January 2026), up 5.2% 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 Hyndburn homes
- Two-up two-down terraces in Woodnook, Peel and Church: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards, back gates and back streets.
- Stone terraces on the hillsides: look for damp on walls built into the slope, and photograph steps and retaining walls.
- Older terraces with original features: record the boiler and heating, single-glazed windows, chimneys and any cellar.
- Homes near the canal and brooks in Church and Clayton-le-Moors: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
- Flats above shops in Accrington town centre: photograph the separate entrance, stairs, fire alarm and meter cupboards.
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 Hyndburn Borough Council's private rented sector (housing standards) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Hyndburn Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Hyndburn: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hyndburn?
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 Hyndburn get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Hyndburn Borough Council's private rented sector (housing standards) 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.
Nearby areas
Blackburn with DarwenBurnleyRossendaleRibble ValleyAll areas