DIY InventoryRenting in North Norfolk: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North Norfolk can get help.
Homes to rent in North Norfolk
North Norfolk is a rural and coastal district of small market towns such as Cromer, Sheringham, North Walsham, Fakenham and Holt, and many flint villages. About one in six households rent privately, while second homes and holiday lets take up a large share of homes in coastal villages such as Wells and Blakeney. Much of the housing is older flint and brick cottages and bungalows, and many rural homes are off mains gas.
Average rent: £865 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.5% 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 Norfolk homes
- Coastal homes in Cromer, Sheringham and Mundesley: photograph salt-pitted metal, window seals and any damp on seaward walls.
- Flint and brick cottages: record damp patches, flaking lime mortar and condensation in cold rooms.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler service label.
- Homes on private drainage: record the septic tank or treatment plant and when it was last emptied.
- Homes near the Broads and low-lying coast: 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 with disrepair or safety concerns can contact North Norfolk District Council's housing standards team, which inspects private rented homes and licenses HMOs. North Norfolk District Council: private renting.
Renting in North Norfolk: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North Norfolk?
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 Norfolk get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact North Norfolk District Council's housing standards team, which inspects private rented homes and licenses HMOs.
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
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