DIY InventoryRenting in Tameside: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tameside can get help.
Homes to rent in Tameside
Tameside is made up of nine former mill towns east of Manchester, with a large stock of Victorian terraced houses and post-war council-built estates. Private renting grew faster than the regional average between 2011 and 2021, mostly in the older terraces of Ashton, Hyde and Stalybridge. Upland towns such as Mossley and Stalybridge have stone-built terraces on steep streets. Prices and rents are below the Greater Manchester average, attracting renters priced out of the city.
Average rent: £917 a month (ONS, March 2026), up 7.7% 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 Tameside homes
- Victorian terraces in Ashton, Hyde and Dukinfield: photograph back yards, cellar walls and any damp low on the walls.
- Stone terraces in Mossley and Stalybridge: check chimney breasts, window reveals and rear walls set into the hillside for damp.
- Flats over shops in town centres: note the separate entrance, stairs, fire door and keys for each door.
- Post-war estate houses in Denton and Hattersley: record window seals, boiler cupboards and any condensation on outside walls.
- Homes on steep streets: photograph steps, handrails, retaining walls and the state of back alleys used for bins.
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 Tameside Council's Housing Standards team about disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in a rented home. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Tameside: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tameside?
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 Tameside get help?
Private tenants can contact Tameside Council's Housing Standards team about disrepair, damp and 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.