DIY InventoryRenting in Tewkesbury: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tewkesbury can get help.
Homes to rent in Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury Borough wraps around Cheltenham and Gloucester, so much of its housing is suburban estates at Bishop's Cleeve, Churchdown, Brockworth and Innsworth, with many new-build developments. Tewkesbury town has a medieval centre of timber-framed buildings, and Winchcombe and the Cotswold villages have listed stone cottages. Private renting is below the national average, but rents rose sharply in the year to July 2026. Low-lying land near the Severn and Avon floods regularly.
Average rent: £1,086 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 13.1% 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 Tewkesbury homes
- Homes near the Severn and Avon in Tewkesbury: check ground floors, skirting boards and walls for damp or flood marks, and note any flood barriers supplied.
- Timber-framed buildings in Tewkesbury town centre: photograph beams, uneven floors and any cracks in plaster.
- Cotswold stone cottages in Winchcombe: record window reveals, damp patches and the condition of any wood burner.
- New-build homes in Bishop's Cleeve and Brockworth: note snagging marks, fences, turf and any management company areas.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level and boiler service label.
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 Tewkesbury Borough Council's environmental health housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Tewkesbury Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Tewkesbury: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tewkesbury?
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 Tewkesbury get help?
Private tenants can contact Tewkesbury Borough Council's environmental health 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.