DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Manchester
Manchester has one of the largest private rented sectors in the North, with almost a third of households renting from a private landlord. The city centre has thousands of apartments in towers and converted mills, while the south of the city has large numbers of student houses and Victorian conversions around Fallowfield, Withington and Rusholme. Inner areas such as Levenshulme, Longsight and Cheetham are lined with terraces, several of them under selective licensing.
Homes sold in Manchester in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 1,386 | £229,232 |
| Terraced | 1,339 | £263,053 |
| Semi-detached | 1,076 | £349,540 |
| Detached | 139 | £472,995 |
| Other | 136 | £2,693,993 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
What to check at a Manchester check-in
- Student houses in Fallowfield and Withington: photograph every bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke and heat alarms, and the shared kitchen and bathroom.
- City-centre apartments: record fob, key, post-box and parking counts, photograph balconies, and note any mould around windows.
- Victorian terraces in Levenshulme, Longsight and Moss Side: photograph back yards, alley gates, gutters and any damp on rear walls.
- Converted mills and warehouses in Ancoats: note exposed brickwork, large windows and their seals, and communal areas.
- Homes on selective licensing streets: photograph the licence and check it shows the right address and expiry date.
Do it yourself in Manchester
- No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
- £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
- The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
- Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.
Inventories in Manchester: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Manchester?
Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.
What is the average rent in Manchester?
£1,380 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 4.6% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Manchester postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Manchester?
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers privately rented homes on designated streets in parts of the city, including areas of Cheetham, Crumpsall and Moss Side added from 24 February 2025. Check an address on the council's selective licensing pages. Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need the national mandatory licence, and smaller shared houses need a licence only inside a selective licensing area. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Manchester?
Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.
Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?
Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.
Ready when you have the keys
Start your Manchester inventory today, on your phone. It’s free until you download it.
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