DIY InventoryRenting in Adur: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Adur can get help.
Homes to rent in Adur
Adur is a narrow coastal district between Brighton and Hove and Worthing, made up of Shoreham-by-Sea, Southwick, Lancing and Sompting. Most homes are owner-occupied houses and bungalows, and private renting is low for the South East, though it rose between 2011 and 2021. Rented homes are often flats in converted houses or modern seafront blocks in Shoreham, and family homes in Lancing and Sompting. New housing has been built on former industrial land along Shoreham harbour.
Average rent: £1,410 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.2% 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 Adur homes
- Seafront and Shoreham Beach homes face salt spray: photograph window frames, door hinges, external locks and any rust on balconies and railings.
- Bungalows and chalet bungalows in Lancing and Sompting often have rooms in the roof: photograph sloping ceilings and dormer windows for damp or staining.
- Homes on shingle and near the river can be damp at ground level: photograph skirting boards, the base of walls and behind furniture.
- Modern harbourside flats: note fob, key and car park permit counts, and photograph the meter cupboard and the bin store.
- Older Shoreham terraces: photograph sash or timber windows, their locks and any rot or condensation on sills.
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
Tenants in Adur can contact the Adur & Worthing Councils' Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home. Adur District Council (Adur & Worthing Councils): private renting.
Renting in Adur: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Adur?
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 Adur get help?
Tenants in Adur can contact the Adur & Worthing Councils' Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home.
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.