DIY InventoryRenting in Ribble Valley: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Ribble Valley can get help.
Homes to rent in Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley is a rural borough of stone-built market towns and villages, mostly owner-occupied and among the more expensive parts of Lancashire. Clitheroe and Longridge have rows of Victorian stone terraces alongside large new-build estates added in recent years. The villages of the Forest of Bowland and around Pendle Hill have stone cottages and farmhouses, many of them off the gas grid. Private renting is a small share of homes.
Average rent: £816 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 5.5% 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 Ribble Valley homes
- Stone terraces in Clitheroe and Longridge: photograph damp in back rooms and cellars, back yards and gutters.
- Rural cottages in the Bowland villages: photograph oil tanks or LPG supply with the fuel level, stoves, chimneys and any septic tank.
- Properties with private water supplies: note the supply, any filter or UV unit and its service record.
- New-build estates in Clitheroe, Longridge and Whalley: record snagging marks, sealant and the state of new turf and fences.
- Farm lets and barn conversions: photograph exposed beams, underfloor heating controls, yards and outbuildings included in the let.
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 Ribble Valley Borough Council's environmental health team. Ribble Valley Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Ribble Valley: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Ribble Valley?
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 Ribble Valley get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Ribble Valley Borough 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your Ribble Valley home’s condition today, on your phone.
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