DIY InventoryRenting in Nottingham: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Nottingham can get help.
Homes to rent in Nottingham
Nottingham has a large private rented sector, with more than a quarter of households renting privately in 2021. Two universities mean many student HMOs, especially in the Victorian terraces of Lenton, Radford and Dunkirk, alongside purpose-built student blocks in the city centre. The Arboretum and Forest Fields have large Victorian houses split into flats and bedsits, while the outer estates such as Aspley, Bilborough and Clifton are mostly inter-war and post-war council-built homes. Most privately rented homes in the city need a selective or HMO licence.
Average rent: £1,015 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 1.7% 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 Nottingham homes
- Student HMOs in Lenton and Radford: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and closers, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately, and note the HMO licence number.
- Selective licensing: check the property's licence and photograph smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as these are licence conditions.
- Victorian houses split into flats in the Arboretum and Forest Fields: record communal hallways, meter cupboards and the key count for each door.
- Lace Market warehouse conversions and city-centre blocks: note fob counts, intercom, parking and bike stores, and any exposed brick or timber.
- Terraces with small back yards: photograph damp at the base of walls, yard gates and where the bins are kept.
- Inter-war homes in Aspley and Bilborough: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and older boilers.
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, or a home that should be licensed and isn't, to Nottingham City Council's private sector housing team. Nottingham City Council: private renting.
Renting in Nottingham: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Nottingham?
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 Nottingham get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes, or a home that should be licensed and isn't, to Nottingham 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.