DIY InventoryRenting in Norwich: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Norwich can get help.
Homes to rent in Norwich
Norwich has one of the higher private renting shares in the East of England, driven by the University of East Anglia and Norwich University of the Arts. Students and young professionals rent Victorian terraces in the Golden Triangle and around the centre, and post-war estate homes in Earlham near the UEA campus. The city centre has many listed and older buildings, flats over shops and new riverside apartment blocks, while large inter-war council estates such as Mile Cross still hold many social and privately rented homes.
Average rent: £1,142 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 0.6% 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 Norwich homes
- Student lets in Earlham and the Golden Triangle: photograph each bedroom door lock, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Victorian terraces in the Golden Triangle: record sash windows, damp in rear extensions and the state of small back gardens.
- Listed and older buildings in the city centre: photograph uneven floors, old windows, timber beams and any damp, and note what the landlord can and cannot change.
- Riverside apartments near the station: note fob and key counts, the intercom, parking bays and the condition of balconies.
- Inter-war estate homes in Mile Cross: photograph windows, doors, gardens, fences and sheds.
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 Norwich City Council's private sector housing team. Norwich City Council: private renting.
Renting in Norwich: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Norwich?
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 Norwich get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Norwich City 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.