DIY InventoryRenting in North Somerset: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North Somerset can get help.
Homes to rent in North Somerset
Weston-super-Mare holds much of North Somerset's private rented stock, especially in the Victorian villas and terraces near the centre and seafront, many of them converted into flats. Clevedon has similar seaside period homes, while Portishead has grown fast with new-build estates and marina apartments. Nailsea, Worle and the villages are mainly owner-occupied family homes, and large new estates continue around Weston at Locking Castle and Haywood Village.
Average rent: £1,209 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.2% 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 Somerset homes
- Converted flats in Weston's Victorian villas: photograph shared hallways, meter cupboards and fire doors, and note which keys open which doors.
- Seafront homes in Weston and Clevedon: record salt marks and corrosion on window frames, railings and external doors.
- Marina apartments in Portishead: note fob and key counts, parking bays and the condition of balconies.
- New-build homes in Haywood Village and Portishead: photograph snagging marks, sealant around baths and the state of new turf and fences.
- Stone cottages in the Mendip villages: photograph damp patches, chimneys, stoves and any oil tank or LPG supply.
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to North Somerset Council's private housing team.
Renting in North Somerset: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North Somerset?
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 Somerset get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to North Somerset Council's private housing team.
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 Somerset home’s condition today, on your phone.
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