DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Sandwell
Sandwell is an industrial Black Country borough made up of six towns: West Bromwich, Smethwick, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Tipton and Wednesbury. A large share of homes are social rented, and the private rented sector has grown fast, much of it in Victorian terraces in Smethwick and West Bromwich and in former council houses bought under right to buy. Shared houses are common enough that the whole borough has additional HMO licensing. Prices are among the lowest in the West Midlands.
Homes sold in Sandwell in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 856 | £233,988 |
| Terraced | 639 | £197,625 |
| Detached | 210 | £307,460 |
| Flat or maisonette | 200 | £104,079 |
| Other | 72 | £533,950 |
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 Sandwell check-in
- Victorian terraces in Smethwick and West Bromwich: photograph the back yard, entry passage, rear gate, gutters and any damp on rear walls.
- Shared houses: check the HMO licence and photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen, as the whole borough needs a licence.
- Former council houses: record the condition of the boiler, fencing, sheds and any non-standard construction such as concrete panel walls.
- Homes by the canals in Tipton and Oldbury: look for and photograph condensation, mould and damp around windows and in corners.
- Flats in post-war blocks: note key and fob counts, the bin store, the door entry system and the communal stairs.
Do it yourself in Sandwell
- 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.
Areas of Sandwell
West BromwichSmethwickOldburyRowley Regis and BlackheathCradley HeathTiptonWednesburyGreat Barr
Inventories in Sandwell: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Sandwell?
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 Sandwell?
£937 a month (ONS, February 2026), up 10.4% 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 Sandwell postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Sandwell?
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme found on the council's pages; a selective scheme for West Bromwich was consulted on earlier but the council went ahead with additional HMO licensing instead. Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide additional licensing for privately rented HMOs with three or more people from two or more households, from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029 (it replaced the earlier West Bromwich scheme). Larger HMOs need a mandatory licence. Fees: £1,001 for a five-year additional HMO licence, paid in two stages, with discounts of up to £220 for accredited landlords Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Sandwell?
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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