DIY InventoryRenting in Lichfield: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Lichfield can get help.
Homes to rent in Lichfield
Lichfield District is mostly owner-occupied, with fewer than one in seven households renting privately. Lets range from period townhouses and terraces in the cathedral city to estate houses in Burntwood and the newer developments on Lichfield's southern edge. The villages have older brick cottages and growing new-build estates, and HMOs are few.
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 Lichfield homes
- Listed and period townhouses near the cathedral: photograph sash windows, shutters, fireplaces and any cracks in plaster or cornicing.
- New-build homes on the southern Lichfield estates: record snagging marks, sealant around baths and any settlement cracks so they aren't blamed on the tenant.
- Older terraces in Burntwood and Chase Terrace: check rear yards, outbuildings and signs of damp in back kitchens.
- Canal-side cottages in Fazeley, Alrewas and Armitage: photograph walls and floors for rising damp and note any flood-risk signs.
- Flats above shops in the city centre: record the shared entrance, smoke alarms and the number of keys and fobs.
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 or safety problems can contact Lichfield District Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect homes and enforce standards. Lichfield District Council: private renting.
Renting in Lichfield: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Lichfield?
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 Lichfield get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety problems can contact Lichfield District Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect homes and enforce standards.
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.