DIY InventoryRenting in North Tyneside: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North Tyneside can get help.
Homes to rent in North Tyneside
North Tyneside runs from the riverside towns of Wallsend and North Shields, with their Victorian terraces and two-storey Tyneside flats, to the coast at Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay, where period houses and seaside villas are common and many have been converted into flats. Inland, Longbenton, Killingworth and Forest Hall are dominated by post-war estates. The borough has seen large new-build estates at Backworth, Shiremoor and the former Whitley Bay fringe, and private renting is concentrated in the older terraces and converted flats.
Average rent: £824 a month (ONS, January 2026), up 6.3% 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 Tyneside homes
- Tyneside flats in Wallsend and North Shields: note whether the flat is upstairs or downstairs, the separate front doors, and which yard and bins belong to it.
- Coastal homes in Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay: photograph salt marks, rust on window fittings and damp on exposed walls.
- Converted flats in Whitley Bay's seaside villas: record communal hallways, meter cupboards, fire doors and the key count.
- Fish Quay and riverside apartments: note fob counts, intercom, parking bays and the condition of balconies.
- New-build estates around Backworth and Shiremoor: photograph snagging marks, sealant and the state of gardens and fences.
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 Tyneside Council's private sector housing team. North Tyneside Council: private renting.
Renting in North Tyneside: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North Tyneside?
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 Tyneside get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to North Tyneside Council's private sector 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.
Nearby areas
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