diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/alchemywindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/alchemywindow.cpp
index 557cb3df4a..48d1a609fc 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/alchemywindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/alchemywindow.cpp
@@ -245,8 +245,9 @@ namespace MWGui
         mAlchemy->clear();
         mAlchemy->setAlchemist (MWMechanics::getPlayer());
 
-        mModel = new InventoryItemModel(MWMechanics::getPlayer());
-        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(mModel);
+        auto model = std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(MWMechanics::getPlayer());
+        mModel = model.get();
+        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(std::move(model));
         mSortModel->setFilter(SortFilterItemModel::Filter_OnlyIngredients);
         mItemView->setModel (mSortModel);
         mItemView->resetScrollBars();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp
index 45c5eb9f83..a8e545f8fd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ void CompanionWindow::setPtr(const MWWorld::Ptr& npc)
 {
     mPtr = npc;
     updateEncumbranceBar();
-
-    mModel = new CompanionItemModel(npc);
-    mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(mModel);
+    auto model = std::make_unique<CompanionItemModel>(npc);
+    mModel = model.get();
+    mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(std::move(model));
     mFilterEdit->setCaption(std::string());
     mItemView->setModel(mSortModel);
     mItemView->resetScrollBars();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
index 8478fc46e0..4f48f70636 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
@@ -129,25 +129,26 @@ namespace MWGui
 
         bool loot = mPtr.getClass().isActor() && mPtr.getClass().getCreatureStats(mPtr).isDead();
 
+        std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> model;
         if (mPtr.getClass().hasInventoryStore(mPtr))
         {
             if (mPtr.getClass().isNpc() && !loot && !lootAnyway)
             {
                 // we are stealing stuff
-                mModel = new PickpocketItemModel(mPtr, new InventoryItemModel(container),
+                model = std::make_unique<PickpocketItemModel>(mPtr, std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(container),
                                                  !mPtr.getClass().getCreatureStats(mPtr).getKnockedDown());
             }
             else
-                mModel = new InventoryItemModel(container);
+                model = std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(container);
         }
         else
         {
-            mModel = new ContainerItemModel(container);
+            model = std::make_unique<ContainerItemModel>(container);
         }
 
         mDisposeCorpseButton->setVisible(loot);
-
-        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(mModel);
+        mModel = model.get();
+        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(std::move(model));
 
         mItemView->setModel (mSortModel);
         mItemView->resetScrollBars();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
index 1dfaa0d047..297bfb04b1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
@@ -122,12 +122,13 @@ namespace MWGui
     void InventoryWindow::updatePlayer()
     {
         mPtr = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld ()->getPlayerPtr();
-        mTradeModel = new TradeItemModel(new InventoryItemModel(mPtr), MWWorld::Ptr());
+        auto tradeModel = std::make_unique<TradeItemModel>(std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(mPtr), MWWorld::Ptr());
+        mTradeModel = tradeModel.get();
 
         if (mSortModel) // reuse existing SortModel when possible to keep previous category/filter settings
-            mSortModel->setSourceModel(mTradeModel);
+            mSortModel->setSourceModel(std::move(tradeModel));
         else
-            mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(mTradeModel);
+            mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(std::move(tradeModel));
 
         mSortModel->setNameFilter(mFilterEdit->getCaption());
 
@@ -776,7 +777,7 @@ namespace MWGui
 
         ItemModel::ModelIndex selected = -1;
         // not using mSortFilterModel as we only need sorting, not filtering
-        SortFilterItemModel model(new InventoryItemModel(player));
+        SortFilterItemModel model(std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(player));
         model.setSortByType(false);
         model.update();
         if (model.getItemCount() == 0)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.cpp
index 165e9ba2aa..55b2994199 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.cpp
@@ -79,17 +79,6 @@ namespace MWGui
         return true;
     }
 
-
-    ProxyItemModel::ProxyItemModel()
-        : mSourceModel(nullptr)
-    {
-    }
-
-    ProxyItemModel::~ProxyItemModel()
-    {
-        delete mSourceModel;
-    }
-
     bool ProxyItemModel::allowedToUseItems() const
     {
         return mSourceModel->allowedToUseItems();
@@ -134,18 +123,9 @@ namespace MWGui
         return mSourceModel->getIndex(item);
     }
 
-    void ProxyItemModel::setSourceModel(ItemModel *sourceModel)
+    void ProxyItemModel::setSourceModel(std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel)
     {
-        if (mSourceModel == sourceModel)
-            return;
-
-        if (mSourceModel)
-        {
-            delete mSourceModel;
-            mSourceModel = nullptr;
-        }
-
-        mSourceModel = sourceModel;
+        mSourceModel = std::move(sourceModel);
     }
 
     void ProxyItemModel::onClose()
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.hpp
index d538a040db..9ddcaffc50 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemmodel.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef MWGUI_ITEM_MODEL_H
 #define MWGUI_ITEM_MODEL_H
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include "../mwworld/ptr.hpp"
 
 namespace MWGui
@@ -87,8 +89,8 @@ namespace MWGui
     class ProxyItemModel : public ItemModel
     {
     public:
-        ProxyItemModel();
-        virtual ~ProxyItemModel();
+        ProxyItemModel() = default;
+        virtual ~ProxyItemModel() = default;
 
         bool allowedToUseItems() const override;
 
@@ -101,14 +103,14 @@ namespace MWGui
         ModelIndex getIndex (const ItemStack &item) override;
 
         /// @note Takes ownership of the passed pointer.
-        void setSourceModel(ItemModel* sourceModel);
+        void setSourceModel(std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel);
 
         ModelIndex mapToSource (ModelIndex index);
         ModelIndex mapFromSource (ModelIndex index);
 
         bool usesContainer(const MWWorld::Ptr& container) override;
     protected:
-        ItemModel* mSourceModel;
+        std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> mSourceModel;
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.cpp
index 23f1398eaa..4674e9bf5e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ namespace MWGui
     ItemSelectionDialog::ItemSelectionDialog(const std::string &label)
         : WindowModal("openmw_itemselection_dialog.layout")
         , mSortModel(nullptr)
-        , mModel(nullptr)
     {
         getWidget(mItemView, "ItemView");
         mItemView->eventItemClicked += MyGUI::newDelegate(this, &ItemSelectionDialog::onSelectedItem);
@@ -37,8 +36,7 @@ namespace MWGui
 
     void ItemSelectionDialog::openContainer(const MWWorld::Ptr& container)
     {
-        mModel = new InventoryItemModel(container);
-        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(mModel);
+        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(container));
         mItemView->setModel(mSortModel);
         mItemView->resetScrollBars();
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.hpp
index 6132bac7af..33b06c08cf 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/itemselection.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ namespace MWGui
     private:
         ItemView* mItemView;
         SortFilterItemModel* mSortModel;
-        InventoryItemModel* mModel;
 
         void onSelectedItem(int index);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp
index 976485c23a..aca1b7392b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@
 namespace MWGui
 {
 
-    PickpocketItemModel::PickpocketItemModel(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, ItemModel *sourceModel, bool hideItems)
+    PickpocketItemModel::PickpocketItemModel(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel, bool hideItems)
         : mActor(actor), mPickpocketDetected(false)
     {
         MWWorld::Ptr player = MWMechanics::getPlayer();
-        mSourceModel = sourceModel;
+        mSourceModel = std::move(sourceModel);
         float chance = player.getClass().getSkill(player, ESM::Skill::Sneak);
 
         mSourceModel->update();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.hpp
index e28af73d78..ec18f13609 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ namespace MWGui
     class PickpocketItemModel : public ProxyItemModel
     {
     public:
-        PickpocketItemModel (const MWWorld::Ptr& thief, ItemModel* sourceModel, bool hideItems=true);
+        PickpocketItemModel(const MWWorld::Ptr& thief, std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel, bool hideItems = true);
 
         bool allowedToUseItems() const override;
         ItemStack getItem (ModelIndex index) override;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/recharge.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/recharge.cpp
index 4c6a80540d..cbebb0cc68 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/recharge.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/recharge.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ void Recharge::onOpen()
 {
     center();
 
-    SortFilterItemModel * model = new SortFilterItemModel(new InventoryItemModel(MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
+    SortFilterItemModel * model = new SortFilterItemModel(std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
     model->setFilter(SortFilterItemModel::Filter_OnlyRechargable);
     mBox->setModel(model);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/repair.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/repair.cpp
index c3d26ee6f0..9917e03f9b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/repair.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/repair.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ void Repair::onOpen()
 {
     center();
 
-    SortFilterItemModel * model = new SortFilterItemModel(new InventoryItemModel(MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
+    SortFilterItemModel * model = new SortFilterItemModel(std::make_unique<InventoryItemModel>(MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
     model->setFilter(SortFilterItemModel::Filter_OnlyRepairable);
     mRepairBox->setModel(model);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.cpp
index 650257736f..09ecdb54e5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.cpp
@@ -152,14 +152,12 @@ namespace
 namespace MWGui
 {
 
-    SortFilterItemModel::SortFilterItemModel(ItemModel *sourceModel)
+    SortFilterItemModel::SortFilterItemModel(std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel)
         : mCategory(Category_All)
         , mFilter(0)
         , mSortByType(true)
-        , mNameFilter("")
-        , mEffectFilter("")
     {
-        mSourceModel = sourceModel;
+        mSourceModel = std::move(sourceModel);
     }
 
     bool SortFilterItemModel::allowedToUseItems() const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.hpp
index 64a01f71bd..2640737a89 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/sortfilteritemmodel.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace MWGui
     class SortFilterItemModel : public ProxyItemModel
     {
     public:
-        SortFilterItemModel (ItemModel* sourceModel);
+        SortFilterItemModel(std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel);
 
         void update() override;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp
index 667832b05d..22973ee91a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 namespace MWGui
 {
 
-    TradeItemModel::TradeItemModel(ItemModel *sourceModel, const MWWorld::Ptr& merchant)
+    TradeItemModel::TradeItemModel(std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel, const MWWorld::Ptr& merchant)
         : mMerchant(merchant)
     {
-        mSourceModel = sourceModel;
+        mSourceModel = std::move(sourceModel);
     }
 
     bool TradeItemModel::allowedToUseItems() const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.hpp
index 53b616aeda..5a22bab8d3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.hpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace MWGui
     class TradeItemModel : public ProxyItemModel
     {
     public:
-        TradeItemModel (ItemModel* sourceModel, const MWWorld::Ptr& merchant);
+        TradeItemModel(std::unique_ptr<ItemModel> sourceModel, const MWWorld::Ptr& merchant);
 
         bool allowedToUseItems() const override;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradewindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradewindow.cpp
index 7fe7cc2877..5832bab830 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradewindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradewindow.cpp
@@ -114,8 +114,9 @@ namespace MWGui
         std::vector<MWWorld::Ptr> worldItems;
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getItemsOwnedBy(actor, worldItems);
 
-        mTradeModel = new TradeItemModel(new ContainerItemModel(itemSources, worldItems), mPtr);
-        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(mTradeModel);
+        auto tradeModel = std::make_unique<TradeItemModel>(std::make_unique<ContainerItemModel>(itemSources, worldItems), mPtr);
+        mTradeModel = tradeModel.get();
+        mSortModel = new SortFilterItemModel(std::move(tradeModel));
         mItemView->setModel (mSortModel);
         mItemView->resetScrollBars();