Renting in Barking and Dagenham: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Barking and Dagenham

Much of the borough is the Becontree Estate, the huge interwar council estate of small brick terraced houses, a large share of which were sold under right to buy and are now let privately. Barking town centre and Barking Riverside have added thousands of new-build flats, while older estates such as Gascoigne are being rebuilt. Private renting grew faster here between 2011 and 2021 than across England, and the council licenses most private lets in its designated areas.

Average rent: £1,693 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 3.6% on a year earlier. Source

On moving-in day

1. Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
2. Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
3. Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.

Things to look at in Barking and Dagenham homes

• In Becontree Estate cottages, photograph the front and back gardens, fences and sheds, since boundary and outbuilding condition is a common dispute in these small terraced houses.
• Many ex-council houses have later uPVC windows and doors: photograph each handle, lock and any misted double-glazed units, and count the window keys.
• Check for loft and wall extensions or converted garages in ex-council houses and photograph their ceilings and corners for damp or cracks.
• In new-build flats at Barking Riverside and the town centre, record fob, car park and post box key counts, and photograph the meter cupboard and any communal heating unit.
• Photograph bathroom extractor fans, window seals and the corners of ceilings in each room, as condensation mould is common in older, smaller terraced houses.

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

Private tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions can report them to Barking and Dagenham Council's private sector housing team, which also runs the borough's property licensing schemes. Barking and Dagenham Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist