DIY Inventory← All areas · North Warwickshire
For tenantsRenting in North Warwickshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in North Warwickshire can get help.
Homes to rent in North Warwickshire
North Warwickshire is a largely rural borough of market towns and former mining villages, with Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth the largest settlements. Much of the housing is semis, bungalows and post-war council-built estates, with brick terraces in the old colliery villages and period cottages in the countryside. Private renting is a modest share of homes, and new-build estates have grown near the M42 at Dordon and Polesworth.
Average rent: £974 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 6.5% 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 Warwickshire homes
- Former colliery terraces in Polesworth, Arley and Dordon: photograph damp at the base of walls, back yards and outbuildings.
- Period houses on Atherstone's Long Street and in Coleshill: record sash windows, old doors, uneven floors and any cellar.
- Rural cottages and farm lets: photograph oil tanks, septic tanks or cesspits, stoves and chimneys, and note the fuel level.
- New-build estates near the M42: photograph snagging marks, sealant, and the state of turf and fences.
- Bungalows let to older tenants: note grab rails, ramps and any adaptations, and their condition.
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 Warwickshire Borough Council's private sector housing team. North Warwickshire Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in North Warwickshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in North Warwickshire?
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 Warwickshire get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to North Warwickshire Borough 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your North Warwickshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
Start free