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For tenantsRenting in North Hertfordshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North Hertfordshire can get help.
Homes to rent in North Hertfordshire
North Hertfordshire is a commuter district on the lines into London and Cambridge, with the market towns of Hitchin, Baldock and Royston, the first garden city at Letchworth and many villages. Private lets include Victorian terraces and flats in Hitchin, garden-city cottages in Letchworth and new-build homes around Baldock and Great Ashby. The villages have older timber-framed and thatched cottages.
Average rent: £1,445 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.4% 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 North Hertfordshire homes
- Arts and Crafts cottages in Letchworth: photograph original windows, doors, roughcast render and hedges, as alterations may need Heritage Foundation consent.
- Victorian terraces near Hitchin station: photograph sash or replacement windows, the rear garden and any damp in back rooms.
- Timber-framed and thatched cottages in Ashwell and other villages: record beams, uneven floors, the thatch where visible and any wood burner and flue.
- New-build homes around Baldock and Great Ashby: record snagging marks, sealant and any cracks so they are noted before the tenancy.
- Flats in the town centres: note the communal entrance, bin and bike stores, and key and fob counts.
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 Hertfordshire District Council's environmental health team, which deals with private housing standards and HMO licensing. North Hertfordshire District Council: private renting.
Renting in North Hertfordshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North Hertfordshire?
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 Hertfordshire get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact North Hertfordshire District Council's environmental health team, which deals with private housing standards and HMO licensing.
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 Hertfordshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
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