DIY InventoryRenting in Brent: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Brent can get help.
Homes to rent in Brent
Brent has one of London's largest private rented sectors, with Victorian terraces in Kilburn, Harlesden and Willesden widely split into flats or shared houses. Further north, interwar semis dominate Wembley, Kingsbury and Neasden, while Wembley Park and Alperton have thousands of new-build flats in tall blocks. The council licenses private lets in almost every ward and all HMOs.
Average rent: £2,014 a month (ONS, August 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 Brent homes
- In Victorian terraces converted into flats in Kilburn and Harlesden, photograph the shared hallway, the front door and meter cupboards, and note which meters belong to the flat.
- In shared houses, photograph each room's door lock, smoke alarm and fire door closers, and the condition of the shared kitchen and bathroom.
- In Wembley Park and Alperton new-build flats, record fob, parking and post box key counts and photograph the heat interface unit, appliances and any balcony.
- Check sash or older timber windows in Victorian flats for broken cords, rot and draughts, and photograph each window's lock.
- Photograph ceilings and corners in each room for mould, as condensation is common in converted flats with small bathrooms and kitchens.
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
Brent Council's private housing services team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and enforces its licensing schemes. Brent Council: private renting.
Renting in Brent: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Brent?
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 Brent get help?
Brent Council's private housing services team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and enforces its licensing schemes.
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.
Neighbouring boroughs
BarnetCamdenWestminsterKensington and ChelseaHammersmith and FulhamEalingHarrowAll areas