DIY InventoryRenting in Stockport: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Stockport can get help.
Homes to rent in Stockport
Stockport is largely owner-occupied, with private renting concentrated in the town centre, Edgeley, Reddish and the Heatons. The northern and central parts have Victorian terraces and flat conversions, while Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme and Marple are mostly inter-war and later family houses. Town-centre regeneration has added new apartment blocks near the station. Prices are among the highest in the North West, so lets tend to be to commuters into Manchester.
Average rent: £1,125 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.4% 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 Stockport homes
- Victorian terraces in Edgeley and Reddish: photograph cellar walls and floors for damp and note any meter or boiler kept there.
- Flat conversions in the Heatons: note shared hallway condition, fire doors and the keys or fobs for each door.
- New apartment blocks in the town centre: record fob counts, parking permits, bin store access and any intercom handset.
- Stone cottages in Marple and Romiley: check window frames, chimney breasts and any condensation or mould in rear rooms.
- Family semis in Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and garage doors as lets often include them.
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
Private tenants can contact Stockport Council's Housing Standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home. Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Stockport: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Stockport?
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 Stockport get help?
Private tenants can contact Stockport Council's Housing Standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home.
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.