DIY InventoryRenting in Canterbury: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Canterbury can get help.
Homes to rent in Canterbury
Canterbury's rental market is shaped by its universities: many Victorian terraces around Wincheap, St Dunstans and the north of the city are let as student houses, alongside purpose-built student blocks. The coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay have seafront terraces, converted flats and many bungalows, popular with commuters and retirees. Large new estates are being built on the edges of the city and at Sturry and Herne Bay. Inland, the district is rural, with villages of brick and flint cottages.
Average rent: £1,268 a month (ONS Price Index of Private Rents, 2026). 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 Canterbury homes
- Student houses near the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church: photograph each bedroom's lock and door, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen separately.
- Listed and period buildings in the city centre: photograph old timber windows, uneven floors, beams and any damp in cellars.
- Seafront flats in Herne Bay and Whitstable: check window frames, balcony rails and metal fittings for salt corrosion, and walls for damp.
- Converted flats in large Victorian houses: record the communal hallway, door entry system, meters and the number of keys handed over.
- Rural cottages in the villages: photograph wood burners, oil tanks and any septic tank where there is no mains gas or drainage.
- Furnished lets: list and photograph every item of furniture, with mattress condition and fire labels.
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 with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Canterbury City Council's private sector housing team. Canterbury City Council: private renting.
Renting in Canterbury: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Canterbury?
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 Canterbury get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Canterbury City Council's private sector housing team.
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.