DIY Inventory

← All areas

West Midlands · ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST6

Inventory and check-in reports in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent is a city of six towns with a large stock of Victorian and Edwardian terraces built for pottery workers, many now privately rented. Private renting rose from 14% to 20% of households between 2011 and 2021, one of the biggest rises in the West Midlands. Shelton has many student HMOs near Staffordshire University, and the council has proposed limits on new HMOs across the city. Prices and rents are among the lowest in the region.

Average rent£718£718 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.1% on a year earlier Source
Average house price£150,000£150,000 (UK HPI, August 2026, provisional), about the same as a year earlier Source
Homes sold, last 12 months2,458Average price paid £159,643 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately20.3%20.3% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 14.4% in 2011 Source
Council tax£2,183£2,183 Band D including Staffordshire police and fire precepts (2026/27) Source
Landlord licensingHMOsWhat it means for you

Homes sold in Stoke-on-Trent in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Terraced1,004£111,189
Semi-detached908£168,372
Detached361£273,460
Other94£234,007
Flat or maisonette91£78,808

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 Stoke-on-Trent check-in

  • Victorian terraces in Burslem, Tunstall and Fenton: photograph back yards, rear walls and any damp or salt marks low on the walls.
  • Student HMOs in Shelton: record each bedroom door lock and key, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen equipment shared between tenants.
  • Older homes with solid walls: check bedroom corners and behind furniture for condensation and black mould, especially in winter.
  • Flats over shops in Hanley and Longton: note the separate entrance, stairs, fire door and any shared meter cupboard.
  • Terraced houses with gas fires or back boilers: photograph the appliance and its service label, and attach the gas safety certificate.

Do it yourself in Stoke-on-Trent

  • 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.

Start free Example report

Neighbourhoods

Areas of Stoke-on-Trent

HanleySheltonStoke and HartshillBurslemTunstallLongtonFentonTrentham

Letting in Stoke-on-Trent

Licensing, safety certificates, deposits and the local figures, for landlords.

Renting in Stoke-on-Trent

Your check-in, getting your deposit back, and where to get help locally.

Free property report

EPC, sold prices, crime, flood risk and rental yield for any Stoke-on-Trent postcode.
Questions

Inventories in Stoke-on-Trent: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in Stoke-on-Trent?

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 Stoke-on-Trent?

£718 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.1% 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 Stoke-on-Trent postcode.

Do landlords need a licence in Stoke-on-Trent?

Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force: the earlier schemes in Cobridge and Fenton ended on 4 August 2019. Additional HMO licensing: Mandatory HMO licensing only for now. In August 2026 the council proposed a citywide additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs, subject to consultation, alongside a citywide Article 4 Direction limiting new HMOs; no final decision had been found at the last check. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in Stoke-on-Trent?

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

Nearby areas

Newcastle-under-LymeStaffordshire MoorlandsStaffordAll areas

Ready when you have the keys

Start your Stoke-on-Trent inventory today, on your phone. It’s free until you download it.

Start free