DIY InventoryRenting in Sunderland: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Sunderland can get help.
Homes to rent in Sunderland
Sunderland has a lower share of private renters than most of the North East, with more social housing than the England average. Private lets are concentrated in the inner terraces of Millfield, Pallion, Hendon and Roker, including the single-storey Sunderland cottages unique to the city. The university brings student lets near the city centre and Chester Road, and Washington's new-town villages offer family houses. Prices and rents are among the lowest in England.
Average rent: £707 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.6% 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 Sunderland homes
- Single-storey Sunderland cottages in Millfield and Pallion: photograph the roof space access, back yards and any damp in the rear rooms.
- Seafront homes in Roker and Seaburn: check window frames, outside paintwork and metalwork for salt and weather damage.
- Student lets near the university: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors, alarms and shared kitchen items.
- Washington new-town houses: note shared paths, garages in blocks and any flat-roof extensions or porches.
- Former colliery terraces in Houghton and Hetton: photograph back lanes, yard walls, outhouses and any signs of damp.
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 report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Sunderland City Council's private sector housing team.
Renting in Sunderland: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Sunderland?
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 Sunderland get help?
Private tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Sunderland City Council's private sector housing team.
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.