DIY InventoryRenting in Tamworth: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tamworth can get help.
Homes to rent in Tamworth
Tamworth is a compact borough that grew rapidly from the 1960s as an overspill town for Birmingham, so most homes are post-war and 1970s to 1980s estate houses. Private renting is below the West Midlands average and concentrated near the town centre and in former council houses bought under right to buy. The council knows of around 131 HMOs and has consulted on licensing smaller ones. Prices are below the regional average.
Average rent: £925 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 0.5% 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 Tamworth homes
- 1970s and 1980s estate houses in Belgrave and Stonydelph: photograph window seals, garages in blocks and shared paths and parking courts.
- Former council houses bought under right to buy: check boilers, wiring and any non-standard construction noted on the paperwork.
- Small HMOs near the town centre: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen.
- Victorian terraces near the castle: photograph back yards, rear walls and any damp in rear rooms.
- Homes near the Rivers Tame and Anker: 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 Tamworth Borough Council's private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Tamworth Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Tamworth: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tamworth?
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 Tamworth get help?
Private tenants can contact Tamworth Borough Council's private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or 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.