DIY InventoryRenting in York: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in York can get help.
Homes to rent in York
York is a historic city with many listed and Victorian homes, two universities and a large student rental market. Victorian terraces in South Bank, Clementhorpe, Fishergate and the Groves are often let, and shared houses are concentrated around the University of York, which is why eight wards are covered by additional HMO licensing. Tourist demand means many short-term lets in the centre. The Ouse and Foss flood regularly, affecting riverside streets and flats.
Average rent: £1,206 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.7% 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 York homes
- Riverside homes along the Ouse and Foss: photograph flood defences, airbricks, flood doors and watermarks, as these streets flood often.
- Shared houses in Heslington, Tang Hall, Hull Road and Fishergate: check the HMO licence even for three or four sharers, and photograph each room's lock, furniture and fire doors.
- Victorian terraces in South Bank and the Groves: photograph back yards, damp in rear kitchens, sash windows and the shared alleys.
- Listed buildings inside the city walls: record original features carefully, as repairs need consent.
- Converted flats and flats over shops in the centre: note communal entrances, fire doors, meters and bin arrangements.
- Interwar council-built homes in Acomb and Tang Hall: photograph fences, gardens and any non-standard construction.
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
City of York Council's housing standards and adaptations team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs. City of York Council: private renting.
Renting in York: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in York?
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 York get help?
City of York Council's housing standards and adaptations 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.