DIY InventoryRenting in Camden: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Camden can get help.
Homes to rent in Camden
Camden has a large private rented sector made up mostly of flats: Georgian and Victorian terraces and villas in Hampstead, Belsize Park and Bloomsbury have been divided up, and West Hampstead has many red-brick mansion blocks. Around a third of homes are council or housing association, in estates across Kentish Town, Gospel Oak and Somers Town. Student lets and shared houses are common near the universities, and the council licenses every HMO in the borough.
Average rent: £2,819 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 1.0% 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 Camden homes
- Sash windows in Georgian and Victorian conversions: photograph cords, catches, locks and any rot or draughts at each window.
- In converted houses and mansion blocks, photograph the communal hallway, stairs and entry phone, and count the keys for the street door, flat door and any post box.
- In shared houses and student lets, photograph each bedroom door lock, the fire doors and closers, and every smoke and heat alarm.
- Check basement and lower ground floor flats closely for damp: photograph wall bases, window wells and any lightwell drains.
- In older flats, photograph original fireplaces, cornices and wooden floors, which are easily damaged and costly to repair.
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
Camden Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and enforces HMO licensing. Camden Council: private renting.
Renting in Camden: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Camden?
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 Camden get help?
Camden Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and enforces HMO licensing.
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.
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