DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Brentwood
Brentwood is a mostly owner-occupied commuter borough on the Elizabeth line, with house prices well above the regional average. Private renting grew faster here than across the region between 2011 and 2021, reaching about one in six households. Rented homes are mainly flats and apartments near Brentwood and Shenfield stations and family houses in the suburbs, with large detached homes in Shenfield and the villages. Much of the borough is Green Belt, so new building is limited and mostly infill or conversions.
Homes sold in Brentwood in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 245 | £931,641 |
| Semi-detached | 240 | £552,525 |
| Flat or maisonette | 191 | £288,443 |
| Terraced | 154 | £461,382 |
| Other | 28 | £824,328 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
What to check at a Brentwood check-in
- Purpose-built and converted flats near Brentwood and Shenfield stations: photograph communal doors, entry phones and bike and bin stores, and count every key and fob.
- Large detached houses in Shenfield and the villages: photograph driveways, gates, garages and garden lighting as well as the rooms.
- Flats in converted older buildings such as the Warley Hospital site: note shared areas, parking permits and any service-charge rules on decoration.
- Chalet bungalows in Doddinghurst and Pilgrims Hatch: photograph the eaves storage and sloping ceilings for damp or condensation.
- Period cottages in Ingatestone: photograph open fireplaces, timber windows and uneven floors so their existing condition is on record.
- Gardens backing onto Green Belt fields: photograph fences, hedges and gates, which often need repair after winter.
Do it yourself in Brentwood
- No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
- £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
- The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
- Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.
Areas of Brentwood
Brentwood town centreShenfieldHuttonWarleyIngatestoneDoddinghurstHerongate and IngravePilgrims Hatch
Inventories in Brentwood: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Brentwood?
Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.
What is the average rent in Brentwood?
£1,620 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.5% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Brentwood postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Brentwood?
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme. Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people forming more than one household. Fees: £890 for a new HMO licence and £603 for a renewal, each for five years (council's HMO page). Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Brentwood?
Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.
Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?
Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.
Nearby areas
Ready when you have the keys
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