DIY InventoryRenting in Torbay: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Torbay can get help.
Homes to rent in Torbay
Torbay covers Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, with over a quarter of households renting privately, well above the South West average. Many large Victorian villas and former hotels and guest houses have been converted into flats and bedsits, especially in central Torquay and Paignton. Brixham has steep streets of fishermen's cottages around the harbour, and the bay has many holiday lets and second homes. Prices are below the regional average and fell in the year to August 2026.
Average rent: £924 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.7% 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 Torbay homes
- Converted hotels and villas in Torquay and Paignton: record each flat's front door, fire doors, alarms, shared hallways and meter cupboards.
- Seafront homes: check window frames, balconies, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Steep-street cottages in Brixham: photograph steps, handrails, retaining walls and any damp in walls set into the hillside.
- Bedsits and small HMOs: record each room's lock and key, the shared kitchen and bathroom, and the heating in each room.
- Former holiday lets now let long term: note furniture and appliances supplied and their condition, room by room.
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 Torbay Council's housing standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its tenants' rights pages for advice. Torbay Council: private renting.
Renting in Torbay: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Torbay?
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 Torbay get help?
Private tenants can contact Torbay Council's housing standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its tenants' rights pages for advice.
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.