Renting in Isles of Scilly: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly have the highest share of private renting outside London, at more than a third of households in 2021, much of it let by the Duchy of Cornwall, which owns most of the land. Homes are mostly granite cottages, terraces and farmhouses, and a large part of the housing is used for holiday lets or staff accommodation for the tourism season, which makes year-round homes scarce. Shared staff housing often needs an HMO licence.

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 Isles of Scilly homes

• Granite cottages exposed to Atlantic weather: look for damp on thick walls, salt corrosion on window frames and door furniture, and storm damage to roofs.
• Shared staff accommodation: photograph each room's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen, and note the HMO licence if there is one.
• Homes off the mains gas network: photograph the heating system, oil or LPG tank and gauge, and any private water supply or septic tank.
• Furnished seasonal lets: list and photograph every item of furniture and kitchen equipment, as replacements are hard to get on the islands.
• Low-lying homes in Hugh Town: look for signs of past flooding from storm surges 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 the Council of the Isles of Scilly's environmental health team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Council of the Isles of Scilly: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist