DIY InventoryRenting in Ipswich: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Ipswich can get help.
Homes to rent in Ipswich
Ipswich is Suffolk's county town and port, with a higher share of private renting than the rest of the East of England. The rented stock is concentrated in Victorian and Edwardian terraces around the centre, in districts such as Westgate, California and St Margaret's, and in the modern flats built around the Waterfront. Large interwar and post-war council-built estates such as Chantry and Gainsborough surround the town, and Ravenswood was built on the old airport. An Article 4 direction controls new small HMOs in parts of the town.
Average rent: £995 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.3% 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 Ipswich homes
- Waterfront flats: note fob and key counts, parking spaces, lifts and bin stores, and look for condensation around large windows.
- Victorian terraces in Westgate, California and Stoke: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and rear access.
- Shared homes and flats above shops: photograph each room's lock and furniture, fire doors and alarms, and the separate entrance and stairs.
- Homes near the Orwell and the Gipping: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
- Post-war estate houses in Chantry and Gainsborough: record the boiler, windows and doors, and the state of gardens 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 Ipswich Borough Council's private sector housing team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Ipswich Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Ipswich: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Ipswich?
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 Ipswich get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Ipswich Borough Council's 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.