DIY InventoryRenting in Brentwood: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Brentwood can get help.
Homes to rent 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.
Average rent: £1,620 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.5% 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 Brentwood homes
- 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.
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 can contact Brentwood Borough Council's private housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions; it can inspect and take action against landlords. Brentwood Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Brentwood: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Brentwood?
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 Brentwood get help?
Tenants can contact Brentwood Borough Council's private housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions; it can inspect and take action against landlords.
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.