DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Preston
Preston's inner wards, such as Plungington, Deepdale, St Matthew's and Avenham, are dominated by Victorian terraces with a large private rented sector, many of them shared or let to students at the University of Central Lancashire. The city centre has a lot of purpose-built student housing and flats over shops. Fulwood and Ashton are more suburban, while the north-west of the city is growing fast with new-build estates at Cottam and beyond. The council is consulting on selective licensing in three inner wards.
Homes sold in Preston in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 514 | £133,520 |
| Semi-detached | 476 | £215,350 |
| Detached | 349 | £362,981 |
| Flat or maisonette | 141 | £85,973 |
| Other | 52 | £558,646 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
What to check at a Preston check-in
- Student lets in Plungington and near UCLan: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Victorian terraces in Deepdale and St Matthew's: record damp at the base of walls, cellar heads, back yards and alley gates.
- Georgian and Victorian houses split into flats in Avenham: note communal hallways, meter cupboards and the key count for each door.
- Apartments at Preston Docks: note fob counts, parking bays and the condition of balconies.
- New-build estates in north-west Preston: photograph snagging marks, sealant and the state of new turf and fences.
Do it yourself in Preston
- No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
- £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
- The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
- Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.
Inventories in Preston: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Preston?
Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.
What is the average rent in Preston?
£790 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 5.9% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Preston postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Preston?
Selective licensing: No selective licensing in force. A scheme for City Centre, St Matthew's and Plungington wards, with a proposed fee of £1,050 per property for up to five years, was consulted on from 27 July 2026 into early October 2026; a decision is awaited. Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies. An Article 4 direction restricting new HMOs was consulted on in early 2026 and, if confirmed, would take effect in February 2027. Fees: £1,050 per property proposed for the planned selective licence (£470 on application, £580 on grant) Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Preston?
Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.
Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?
Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.
Nearby areas
Ready when you have the keys
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