DIY InventoryRenting in Basildon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Basildon can get help.
Homes to rent in Basildon
Basildon borough combines Basildon New Town, built from the late 1940s, with the older commuter towns of Billericay and Wickford. Much of the new town is terraced houses, maisonettes and flats in neighbourhood estates, some now being regenerated, while Billericay and Wickford have mainly owner-occupied semis and detached houses. Private rented homes include ex-council new town houses and flats, and flats in newer blocks near Basildon and Pitsea stations.
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 Basildon homes
- New town terraces and maisonettes: photograph flat roofs visible from windows, communal walkways and the condition of shared stair and bin areas.
- Ex-council homes: photograph uPVC windows and doors, their locks and key counts, and any garden fences, sheds and rear gates onto footpaths.
- Flats in newer blocks near the town centre and Pitsea station: note fob, key and parking permit counts and photograph the meter cupboard.
- Former plotland bungalows in Laindon and Langdon Hills: photograph the roof edges, outbuildings and any older extensions.
- Clay soils across south Essex: photograph any cracks in walls and around door frames so later movement 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 Basildon can contact Basildon Council’s private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in a rented home. Basildon Council: private renting.
Renting in Basildon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Basildon?
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 Basildon get help?
Tenants in Basildon can contact Basildon 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.