DIY InventoryRenting in Northumberland: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Northumberland can get help.
Homes to rent in Northumberland
South-east Northumberland, around Blyth, Ashington and Bedlington, has rows of former colliery terraces with a sizeable private rented sector, and the Croft area of Blyth is now under selective licensing. Cramlington is a new town of estates that is still growing. Further north and west, Morpeth, Hexham, Alnwick and Berwick are stone-built market towns, and the rural uplands and the coast have stone cottages, farm lets and many holiday homes. Many rural homes are off the gas grid.
Average rent: £687 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 Northumberland homes
- Colliery terraces in Ashington, Blyth and Bedlington: photograph damp at the base of walls, back yards, outhouses and rear lanes.
- Homes in Blyth's Croft licensing area: note the licence number and check that the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are there and working.
- Coastal homes in Blyth, Amble and Berwick: record salt marks and rust on window fittings and damp on exposed walls.
- Stone cottages and farm lets in the hills and Tyne Valley: photograph stoves, chimneys, oil tanks or LPG supply with the fuel level, and any septic tank.
- Cramlington's estate homes: note garages, parking bays, fences and any shared paths.
- Former holiday cottages let long term on the coast: list furniture and kitchenware item by item, as much is often included.
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 Northumberland County Council's housing standards team. Northumberland County Council: private renting.
Renting in Northumberland: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Northumberland?
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 Northumberland get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Northumberland County Council's housing standards 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 Northumberland home’s condition today, on your phone.
Start free