DIY Inventory← All areas · Stratford-on-Avon
For tenantsRenting in Stratford-on-Avon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Stratford-on-Avon can get help.
Homes to rent in Stratford-on-Avon
Stratford-on-Avon is a large rural district with the highest average house price in the West Midlands. Private renting is below the national average, with lets concentrated in Stratford-upon-Avon itself and the market towns. Many homes are listed timber-framed or stone cottages in conservation areas, while the towns and larger villages have grown with big new-build estates. Tourism and the theatre bring short lets and some staff housing in the town.
Average rent: £1,143 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 Stratford-on-Avon homes
- Timber-framed and listed cottages: photograph beams, uneven floors, small leaded or single-glazed windows and any cracks in plaster.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG bottles, the fuel level and the boiler service label.
- Homes with wood burners or open fires: photograph the stove, glass, hearth and the chimney sweep certificate.
- New-build estates in Wellesbourne, Southam and Shipston: note snagging marks, garden fences, turf and parking spaces.
- Cottages near the River Avon and Stour: check ground floors and walls for damp or past flood marks.
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 Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions. Stratford-on-Avon District Council: private renting.
Renting in Stratford-on-Avon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Stratford-on-Avon?
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 Stratford-on-Avon get help?
Private tenants can contact Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions.
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 Stratford-on-Avon home’s condition today, on your phone.
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