DIY InventoryRenting in Pendle: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Pendle can get help.
Homes to rent in Pendle
Pendle's towns grew on cotton weaving, so Nelson, Colne, Brierfield and Barnoldswick are filled with rows of Victorian stone and brick terraces, many of them privately rented and some long-term empty. House prices are among the lowest in Lancashire. The council has used selective licensing in the past in parts of Nelson, Brierfield and Colne. Around Pendle Hill and towards the Dales the villages have stone cottages and farmhouses, often off the gas grid.
Average rent: £634 a month (ONS, October 2025), up 6.4% 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 Pendle homes
- Stone terraces in Nelson, Colne and Brierfield: photograph damp at the base of walls, cellar heads and mould in back bedrooms.
- Back yards and back streets behind terraced rows: record the yard gate, walls, outside toilet if any and where the bins are kept.
- Hillside terraces in Colne: photograph steps, retaining walls, gutters and any damp in rooms built into the slope.
- Stone cottages in Trawden and the Pendle Hill villages: photograph stoves, chimneys, damp in thick walls and any oil tank or LPG supply with the fuel level.
- Older terraces with original features: record sash or replacement windows, fireplaces and any gas fires.
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 Pendle Borough Council's housing standards team. Pendle Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Pendle: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Pendle?
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 Pendle get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Pendle Borough 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.
Nearby areas
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