DIY InventoryRenting in Walsall: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Walsall can get help.
Homes to rent in Walsall
Walsall has a large stock of Victorian terraces in the centre and the old industrial towns of Willenhall and Darlaston, and big post-war council estates in Bloxwich and Blakenall. Private renting grew faster than the West Midlands average between 2011 and 2021, and rents rose sharply in the year to August 2026. The council licenses smaller HMOs in central wards such as Paddock, Palfrey, Pleck and St Matthew's. The east of the borough, around Aldridge and Streetly, is mostly owner-occupied family housing.
Average rent: £924 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 9.7% 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 Walsall homes
- Small HMOs in Paddock, Palfrey, Pleck and St Matthew's: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen, and keep the licence with the report.
- Victorian terraces in Caldmore and Willenhall: photograph back yards, rear walls and any damp low on the walls.
- Post-war estate homes in Blakenall and Bloxwich: check window seals, boiler cupboards and any condensation on outside walls.
- Former mining-area homes in Brownhills: note any cracks in walls and record the mining report if one was supplied.
- Family semis in Aldridge and Streetly: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and garage doors as lets often include them.
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 Walsall Council's housing standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, or about an unlicensed HMO. Walsall Council: private renting.
Renting in Walsall: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Walsall?
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 Walsall get help?
Private tenants can contact Walsall Council's housing standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, or about an unlicensed HMO.
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.