DIY InventoryRenting in Bromley: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Bromley can get help.
Homes to rent in Bromley
Bromley is London's largest borough by area and mostly owner-occupied, with interwar and post-war semis across Orpington, West Wickham and Petts Wood. Private renting is among the lowest in London but is concentrated in the Victorian conversions of Penge, Beckenham and Bromley town. Post-war council-built estates in the Crays and green-belt villages to the south add to a varied stock, and the council runs only the national mandatory HMO licensing.
Average rent: £1,684 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.7% 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 Bromley homes
- In Victorian houses split into flats in Penge and Beckenham, photograph the shared entrance, stairs and the flat's front door, and list which keys open which doors.
- In suburban semis, photograph the garden, lawn, hedges, garage and driveway, and note who is responsible for keeping them.
- In larger detached houses, photograph every external door and window lock and count the keys for each, including garages and outbuildings.
- Check bay windows and original timber windows in older houses for rot and broken catches, and photograph the sills.
- Photograph the boiler and its service sticker, the hot water cylinder and any immersion heater, which many older houses still have.
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
Bromley Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team handles complaints about disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes. Bromley Council: private renting.
Renting in Bromley: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Bromley?
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 Bromley get help?
Bromley Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team handles complaints about disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes.
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.