DIY InventoryRenting in Tendring: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tendring can get help.
Homes to rent in Tendring
Tendring is a coastal district with private renting close to the national average, mostly in Clacton, Jaywick, Walton and Dovercourt. Many seaside villas and guest houses have been converted into flats and bedsits, and the area has a very large stock of bungalows. Jaywick's former holiday chalets are among the most deprived homes in England. Inland and along the estuaries are older market towns and villages with period cottages.
Average rent: £1,039 a month (ONS, December 2025), up 7.6% 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 Tendring homes
- Seafront homes in Clacton, Walton and Frinton: check window frames, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Converted guest houses and bedsits in Clacton: record shared kitchens and bathrooms, fire doors, alarms and keys for each room.
- Chalets and bungalows in Jaywick and Point Clear: photograph roofs, floors, damp patches and any electric or oil heating.
- Bungalows in Holland-on-Sea: note flat-roof extensions, gutters, garages and garden condition.
- Period houses in Harwich and Manningtree: photograph sash windows, old floors, fireplaces and any damp near the estuary.
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 Tendring District Council's Private Sector Housing Team in Clacton about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Tendring District Council: private renting.
Renting in Tendring: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tendring?
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 Tendring get help?
Private tenants can contact Tendring District Council's Private Sector Housing Team in Clacton 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.