DIY InventoryRenting in Teignbridge: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Teignbridge can get help.
Homes to rent in Teignbridge
Teignbridge runs from the coast at Dawlish and Teignmouth to the edge of Dartmoor, with Newton Abbot as the main town. Private renting is a little below the national average, with lets in the Victorian terraces and flats of Newton Abbot and the seaside towns. Inland towns and villages have stone, cob and thatched cottages, many listed and some off the gas grid. Holiday and second homes are common on the coast.
Average rent: £961 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.6% 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 Teignbridge homes
- Seaside homes in Dawlish and Teignmouth: check window frames, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Cob and thatched cottages in the villages: photograph the thatch, walls, low beams and any damp or cracks in limewashed walls.
- Dartmoor-edge homes in Bovey Tracey and Ashburton: record oil tanks or LPG, wood burners and the sweep certificate.
- Victorian flat conversions in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot: note shared hallways, fire doors and keys for each door.
- Homes near the Teign estuary and rivers: 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 Teignbridge District Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Teignbridge District Council: private renting.
Renting in Teignbridge: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Teignbridge?
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 Teignbridge get help?
Private tenants can contact Teignbridge District 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.
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