DIY InventoryRenting in North Devon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North Devon can get help.
Homes to rent in North Devon
North Devon combines the market town of Barnstaple, the Victorian resort of Ilfracombe, surf villages such as Croyde and Woolacombe and a large rural hinterland reaching into Exmoor. Rented homes include converted Victorian guest houses and HMOs in Ilfracombe, terraces and estates in Barnstaple, and rural cottages, while many coastal homes are second homes or holiday lets. The council estimates about 1,100 HMOs in the district.
Average rent: £845 a month (ONS, July 2026), similar to 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 North Devon homes
- Coastal homes in Ilfracombe, Woolacombe and Croyde: photograph salt-pitted metal, window seals and any damp on seaward walls.
- Converted guest houses and HMOs in Ilfracombe: photograph every bedroom lock, fire doors, alarms and communal stairs.
- Cob and stone cottages in rural villages: record damp patches, flaking render, any wood burner and flue, and the condition of the thatch where visible.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler service label.
- Low-lying homes near the Taw estuary in Barnstaple and Braunton: note any signs of past flooding on floors and lower walls.
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 can report poor conditions in a private rented home to North Devon Council's private sector housing team through the council website. North Devon Council: private renting.
Renting in North Devon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North Devon?
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 North Devon get help?
Tenants can report poor conditions in a private rented home to North Devon Council's private sector housing team through the council website.
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your North Devon home’s condition today, on your phone.
Start free