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For tenantsRenting in Redcar and Cleveland: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Redcar and Cleveland can get help.
Homes to rent in Redcar and Cleveland
Redcar and Cleveland mixes industrial Teesside, seaside towns and the villages of East Cleveland. South Bank, Grangetown, Eston and Normanby grew around the steel and chemical works, with Victorian terraces and large post-war estates, and South Bank had selective licensing until 2024. Redcar, Marske and Saltburn have Victorian seaside terraces, and East Cleveland's former ironstone-mining villages such as Brotton, Skelton, Loftus and Carlin How have terraced rows where private renting is common. Prices are among the lowest in the North East.
Average rent: £645 a month (ONS, May 2026), up 3.6% 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 Redcar and Cleveland homes
- Seafront homes in Redcar, Marske and Saltburn: photograph salt marks, rust on window fittings and damp on exposed walls.
- Victorian terraces in South Bank and East Cleveland villages: record damp at the base of walls, back yards, rear lanes and any boarded neighbouring houses.
- Saltburn's tall brick terraces: photograph sash windows, chimneys and gutters, and stairs in homes split into flats.
- Post-war estate homes in Eston, Normanby and Grangetown: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and older boilers.
- Rural cottages near Guisborough and the moors: photograph stoves, chimneys and any oil tank or LPG supply with the fuel level.
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 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's housing standards team. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Redcar and Cleveland: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Redcar and Cleveland?
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 Redcar and Cleveland get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Redcar and Cleveland 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.
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