DIY InventoryRenting in Oldham: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Oldham can get help.
Homes to rent in Oldham
Oldham's inner areas, such as Coldhurst, Westwood, Werneth and Glodwick, are dominated by Victorian brick terraces built for the cotton mills, and this is where most private renting and the selective licensing areas are. Chadderton, Royton, Shaw and Failsworth mix terraces with inter-war semis and post-war estates. In the east, the Saddleworth villages on the edge of the Pennines are stone-built and largely owner-occupied. Private renting grew quickly between 2011 and 2021, and rents have risen sharply since.
Average rent: £931 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 11.0% 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 Oldham homes
- Terraces inside the selective licensing areas: note the licence number and photograph smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, which are licence conditions.
- Victorian terraces in Coldhurst, Werneth and Glodwick: photograph damp at the base of walls, cellar heads, back yards and alley gates.
- Stone cottages in Saddleworth: photograph damp in thick walls, stoves and chimneys, and window frames exposed to Pennine weather.
- Flats over shops in the town centre: record the separate entrance, stairs, fire doors and where the meters are.
- Hillside terraces in Lees and Shaw: photograph steps, retaining walls, gutters and any damp in back rooms built into the slope.
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 Oldham Council's private sector housing team. Oldham Council: private renting.
Renting in Oldham: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Oldham?
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 Oldham get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Oldham 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.