DIY InventoryRenting in Liverpool: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Liverpool can get help.
Homes to rent in Liverpool
Liverpool has a large private rented sector, much of it Victorian terraces in inner areas such as Kensington, Anfield, Picton and Wavertree, and Georgian houses split into flats near the universities. The city centre has added thousands of apartments and student rooms in towers and converted warehouses. Most of the city has been under selective licensing since 2022, and the council is planning a scheme to follow it from 2027.
Average rent: £916 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.4% 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 Liverpool homes
- Student houses around Smithdown Road and Wavertree: photograph every bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen.
- Georgian flats in the Canning area: record sash windows, high ceilings for cracks and damp, and communal stair condition.
- City-centre apartments: note fob, key, parking and post-box counts, and photograph balconies and the intercom.
- Victorian terraces in Anfield, Walton and Kensington: photograph the back yard, alley gate, gutters and any damp on rear walls.
- Licensed homes: photograph the selective or HMO licence and check its address and expiry date.
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 report them to Liverpool City Council's private sector housing team, which enforces licence conditions and housing standards. Liverpool City Council: private renting.
Renting in Liverpool: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Liverpool?
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 Liverpool get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety problems can report them to Liverpool City Council's private sector housing team, which enforces licence conditions and housing 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.