DIY Inventory← All areas · North East Lincolnshire
For tenantsRenting in North East Lincolnshire: 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 Lincolnshire can get help.
Homes to rent in North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire covers Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham and the villages around them. More than one in five households rent privately, with the largest concentration in the Victorian terraces of the East and West Marsh near Grimsby's docks, where part of the East Marsh has been under selective licensing since April 2026. Cleethorpes has many Victorian seafront houses split into flats.
Average rent: £651 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 7.6% 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 North East Lincolnshire homes
- Victorian terraces in the East and West Marsh: photograph the back yard, alley gate, gutters and any damp on rear walls and in back kitchens.
- Homes in the East Marsh licensing area: photograph the selective licence and check it shows the right address and expiry date.
- Seafront flats in Cleethorpes: photograph salt-pitted metal, window seals and any damp on seaward walls, and record communal areas.
- Low-lying homes near the Humber and the docks: note any signs of past flooding on floors and lower walls.
- Flats over shops in Grimsby town centre: record the shared entrance, fire doors and the number of keys handed over.
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 Lincolnshire Council's private sector housing team, which runs the selective licensing scheme and can inspect homes. North East Lincolnshire Council: private renting.
Renting in North East Lincolnshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North East Lincolnshire?
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 Lincolnshire get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact North East Lincolnshire Council's private sector housing team, which runs the selective licensing scheme and can inspect 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 areas
Ready when you have the keys
Record your North East Lincolnshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
Start free