Renting in Brighton and Hove: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Brighton and Hove

Brighton and Hove has one of the largest private rented sectors outside London, with about a third of households renting privately in 2021. Much of the stock is Regency and Victorian houses converted into flats, alongside small terraces in Hanover and North Laine. Two universities create a large student market, concentrated around Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and the Lewes Road, with many shared houses. Selective and additional licensing schemes cover large parts of the city, so landlords should check a property's licence status.

Average rent: £1,808 a month (ONS, August 2026), down 1.2% on a year earlier. Source

On moving-in day

1. Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
2. Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
3. Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.

Things to look at in Brighton and Hove homes

• Regency and Victorian conversions near the seafront: photograph sash windows, cornices, damp patches and any salt staining on window frames and railings.
• Student HMOs around Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and the Lewes Road: photograph each bedroom door lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen in detail.
• Flats in converted houses: photograph the meter cupboards, communal hallway and stairs, and record keys for the street door and the flat.
• Basement and lower-ground flats in Hove and Kemptown: photograph walls near floor level and light wells for damp and mould.
• Steep Hanover terraces: photograph rear yards, steps and drains, and any cracks in garden walls.
• Licensed properties: photograph the displayed licence or note its number, and check the room count matches the licence.

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 report disrepair, damp or unsafe homes to Brighton & Hove City Council's private sector housing team, which enforces housing standards and the licensing schemes. Brighton & Hove City Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist