DIY InventoryRenting in Barnet: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Barnet can get help.
Homes to rent in Barnet
Barnet is London's most populous borough and largely suburban, with interwar semis and Edwardian houses across Finchley, Hendon and Mill Hill, many now split into flats. Colindale and West Hendon have seen some of London's largest new-build regeneration, with tall blocks of flats replacing estates and airfield land. About a third of households rent privately, and the council licenses all HMOs borough-wide.
Average rent: £1,953 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 2.9% 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 Barnet homes
- In Edwardian and interwar houses converted into flats in Finchley and Golders Green, photograph the shared hallway, stairs and front door locks, and note which keys open communal doors.
- In Colindale and West Hendon new-build blocks, record fob, parking permit and post box key counts and photograph the heat interface unit or communal heating meter.
- Check bay windows and leaded or original windows in older semis: photograph catches, glazing and any condensation damage to sills.
- In Hampstead Garden Suburb houses, photograph original features such as doors, fireplaces and windows in detail, as alterations there are tightly controlled.
- Photograph gardens, sheds and boundary fences in suburban houses, and note who looks after the garden under the tenancy.
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Barnet Council's private sector housing team, which also enforces HMO licensing. Barnet Council: private renting.
Renting in Barnet: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Barnet?
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 Barnet get help?
Private tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Barnet Council's private sector housing team, which also enforces HMO licensing.
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.