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For tenantsRenting in North 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 Lincolnshire can get help.
Homes to rent in North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire centres on the steel town of Scunthorpe, with the market towns of Brigg, Barton-upon-Humber and Epworth and many rural villages. Much of the private rented stock is early 20th-century terraces in Scunthorpe's Crosby and town centre areas, where selective licensing now applies. The Isle of Axholme and Humber bank villages are low-lying farmland with cottages and bungalows.
Average rent: £654 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.8% 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 Lincolnshire homes
- Terraces in Crosby and Park: photograph the rear yard, alley gate, gutters and any damp on back walls and in kitchens.
- Homes in the Scunthorpe licensing area: photograph the selective licence and check it shows the right address and expiry date.
- Low-lying homes on the Isle of Axholme and the Humber bank: note any signs of past flooding on floors and lower walls.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler service label.
- Homes near the steelworks: record dust on window sills and frames and the condition of external paintwork at the start.
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 Lincolnshire Council's private sector housing team, which runs the selective licensing scheme and can inspect homes. North Lincolnshire Council: private renting.
Renting in North Lincolnshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North 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 Lincolnshire get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact North 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your North Lincolnshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
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