DIY InventoryRenting in Ashford: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Ashford can get help.
Homes to rent in Ashford
Ashford borough is a growing market town surrounded by Weald and Romney Marsh countryside. The town has expanded fast, with large new-build estates and apartment blocks near the international station, alongside Victorian terraces in the centre. Outside the town are timber-framed, weatherboarded and brick cottages in villages such as Tenterden, Wye and Charing. Private rented homes range from town-centre flats let to commuters to rural cottages.
Average rent: £1,246 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 3.4% 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 Ashford homes
- Weatherboarded and timber-framed cottages in Tenterden and the Weald villages: photograph external boarding, window frames and any rot or flaking paint.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph oil tanks, the gauge reading and any septic tank or treatment plant access cover.
- Apartment blocks near the international station: note fob, key and parking permit counts, and photograph the meter cupboard and bin store.
- New-build estates such as Singleton and Park Farm: photograph sealant around baths and showers, settlement cracks and the condition of gardens and fences.
- Old cottages with low beams and uneven floors: photograph beams, floorboards and door frames so later damage can be compared.
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 Ashford can contact Ashford Borough Council’s private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home. Ashford Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Ashford: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Ashford?
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 Ashford get help?
Tenants in Ashford can contact Ashford Borough Council’s 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.