DIY InventoryRenting in Preston: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Preston can get help.
Homes to rent 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.
Average rent: £790 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 5.9% 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 Preston homes
- 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.
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 Preston City Council's environmental health team.
Renting in Preston: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Preston?
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 Preston get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Preston City Council's environmental health 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.