DIY Inventory

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Renting in North East Derbyshire: check-in and getting your deposit back

What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North East Derbyshire can get help.

Homes to rent in North East Derbyshire

North East Derbyshire wraps around Chesterfield, from Dronfield and Eckington near Sheffield to Clay Cross and the former mining villages in the south and east. Most households own their homes and only about one in ten rent privately, mostly in colliery-era terraces and post-war houses. The west of the district rises towards the Peak District, with stone cottages and farms.

Average rent: £787 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 3.8% on a year earlier. Source

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 North East Derbyshire homes

  • Colliery-era terraces in Clay Cross, Holmewood and Eckington: note cracks in walls and around doors and windows that may come from old mine workings.
  • Gritstone cottages in Ashover and the western villages: photograph damp patches, condensation, wood burners and flues.
  • Rural homes off mains gas: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler service label.
  • Older terraces with rear yards: record outbuildings, gutters, and any damp in back kitchens and bathrooms.
  • New-build homes in Clay Cross and Wingerworth: record snagging marks, sealant and any cracks so they are noted before the tenancy.

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 concerns can contact North East Derbyshire District Council's private sector housing team, which enforces housing standards in privately rented homes. North East Derbyshire District Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist

Questions

Renting in North East Derbyshire: questions

What should I check when I move into a rented home in North East Derbyshire?

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 East Derbyshire get help?

Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact North East Derbyshire District Council's private sector housing team, which enforces housing standards in privately rented homes.

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.

Nearby

Nearby areas

ChesterfieldBolsoverAmber ValleyDerbyshire DalesSheffieldAll areas

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