DIY InventoryRenting in Torridge: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Torridge can get help.
Homes to rent in Torridge
Torridge is a rural district in north-west Devon, centred on Bideford, with about one in five households renting privately. Bideford and Appledore have steep streets of older terraces and cottages, while Westward Ho! has holiday flats and chalets alongside family homes. The inland villages have cob and stone cottages, farmhouses and barn conversions, many on oil or LPG heating. Rents are among the lowest in the South West.
Average rent: £791 a month (ONS, January 2026), up 5.0% 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 Torridge homes
- Coastal homes in Westward Ho!, Appledore and Hartland: check window frames, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Cob and stone cottages: photograph walls for damp, cracks or crumbling render, and note any limewash or breathable paint.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level, private water supply or septic tank, and boiler service label.
- Steep-street terraces in Bideford: photograph steps, handrails, retaining walls and any damp in rear rooms.
- Former holiday flats 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 Torridge District Council's housing regulation team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Torridge District Council: private renting.
Renting in Torridge: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Torridge?
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 Torridge get help?
Private tenants can contact Torridge District Council's housing regulation 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.