DIY InventoryRenting in Shropshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Shropshire can get help.
Homes to rent in Shropshire
Shropshire is a large rural county with Shrewsbury as its main town and a ring of market towns: Oswestry, Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and Whitchurch. Older homes include timber-framed and Georgian town houses, stone and brick cottages, and farm conversions, many of them listed or in conservation areas. Much of the countryside is off the gas grid. Private renting is a little below the national average, and HMOs are found mainly in Shrewsbury.
Average rent: £823 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.3% 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 Shropshire homes
- Rural homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler, or the LPG tank and meter, and note any wood burner and its sweep record.
- Cottages and farm conversions with private drainage: record the septic tank or treatment plant cover and any service record left for the tenant.
- Timber-framed and listed houses in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Much Wenlock: photograph beams, uneven floors, old windows and any damp or cracks in plaster.
- Homes near the Severn in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth: check ground floors, skirting boards and gardens for signs of past flooding.
- New-build estates around Shrewsbury and Shifnal: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and the garden, and note who maintains shared areas.
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 with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact Shropshire Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords. Shropshire Council: private renting.
Renting in Shropshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Shropshire?
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 Shropshire get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact Shropshire Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.
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.