DIY InventoryRenting in Wychavon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Wychavon can get help.
Homes to rent in Wychavon
Wychavon is a rural district of market towns and villages around Worcester, mostly owner-occupied with private renting well below the national level. Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore have period centres and large modern estates, while villages have timber-framed and Cotswold stone cottages, many listed. The Vale of Evesham's farms and packhouses mean some homes are let to seasonal and agricultural workers. Riverside towns on the Avon and Severn, such as Evesham, Pershore and Upton, are prone to flooding.
Average rent: £954 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.9% 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 Wychavon homes
- Riverside homes in Evesham, Pershore and Upton-upon-Severn: photograph flood defences, airbricks and watermarks, as these towns flood often.
- Timber-framed and black-and-white cottages: photograph beams, infill panels, low doorways and any damp or rot.
- Cotswold stone homes in Broadway: check damp at the base of walls, stone slates and timber windows, and record listed features.
- Shared homes for farm and packhouse workers in the Vale: record each room's furniture and locks, and check a licence is in place for five or more sharers.
- Rural homes off the gas network: note the oil tank level, wood burners and any septic tank.
- New-build estates near Worcester and Droitwich: check sealant, flooring and snagging marks, and who maintains shared land.
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
Wychavon District Council's Private Sector Housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs. Wychavon District Council: private renting.
Renting in Wychavon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Wychavon?
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 Wychavon get help?
Wychavon District Council's Private Sector Housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses 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.