DIY InventoryRenting in West Suffolk: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in West Suffolk can get help.
Homes to rent in West Suffolk
West Suffolk combines the historic town of Bury St Edmunds, the London overspill town of Haverhill and the racing town of Newmarket with large rural areas. Private renting is above the national level, boosted by the US Air Force bases at Mildenhall and Lakenheath, where many homes are let to service families, and by stable staff in Newmarket. Villages in the south have timber-framed and thatched cottages, while Breckland around Brandon has flint homes. Large new estates have been built around Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.
Average rent: £1,188 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 4.2% 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 West Suffolk homes
- Homes let to US service families near Mildenhall and Lakenheath: record every appliance and furnishing in detail, as tenancies often change at short notice.
- Timber-framed and thatched cottages in the Stour valley: photograph beams, lime plaster, thatch and any damp, and note fire safety advice.
- Flint cottages in Brandon and Breckland: check for damp in walls, and photograph gardens on sandy soil and any trees nearby.
- Racing staff flats in Newmarket: note shared areas, furniture and any keys tied to the yard.
- Overspill estates in Haverhill: photograph communal areas, garages in blocks and flat roofs.
- Rural homes off the gas network: record the oil tank level and any septic tank or private drainage.
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
West Suffolk Council's private sector housing team deals with disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses and registers HMOs. West Suffolk Council: private renting.
Renting in West Suffolk: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in West Suffolk?
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 West Suffolk get help?
West Suffolk Council's private sector housing team deals with disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses and registers HMOs.
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your West Suffolk home’s condition today, on your phone.
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