DIY InventoryRenting in Worcester: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Worcester can get help.
Homes to rent in Worcester
Worcester is a compact cathedral city where private renting is above the national level. Victorian terraces in the Arboretum, St John's and Barbourne are often let as flats or shared houses, and the University of Worcester brings many student lets, which is why the whole city is covered by additional HMO licensing. Post-war council estates in Warndon, Tolladine and Ronkswood include ex-council homes now let privately, while St Peter's and Warndon Villages are modern estates. Riverside streets near the Severn flood regularly.
Average rent: £977 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 5.3% 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 Worcester homes
- Shared houses and student lets in St John's and the Arboretum: check the HMO licence even for three or four sharers, and photograph each room's lock, furniture and fire doors.
- Riverside homes near the Severn and Teme: photograph flood defences, airbricks and any watermarks, as these streets flood often.
- Victorian terraces: photograph back yards, damp in rear kitchens and older sash or replacement windows.
- Flats over shops and in converted buildings in the city centre: note separate entrances, fire doors and meter cupboards.
- Ex-council homes in Warndon and Tolladine: photograph fences, gardens and shared parking areas.
- Listed and timber-framed buildings near the cathedral: record original features carefully, as repairs need consent.
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
Worcester City Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs city-wide. Worcester City Council: private renting.
Renting in Worcester: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Worcester?
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 Worcester get help?
Worcester City Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs city-wide.
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.