DIY Inventory

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London borough · EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4

Inventory and check-in reports in City of London

The City of London has very few homes (around 8,600 residents in 2021), and almost all are flats. Nearly half of households (48.3%) rented privately in 2021, the highest share in England, many in flats on the Barbican and other estates let by leaseholders. The Corporation owns the Golden Lane, Middlesex Street and Mansell Street estates, and there are newer apartment blocks around Aldgate and Farringdon. The ONS does not publish average rents for the City because too few lets are recorded.

Average house price£726,633£726,633 (UK HPI, August 2026), down 14.6% on a year earlier (based on very few sales) Source
Homes sold, last 12 months120Average price paid £1,788,601 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately48.3%48.3% of households rent privately (Census 2021), the highest share in England, up from 35.9% in 2011 Source
Council tax£1,329.56£1,329.56 (Band D, 2026/27, including the GLA precept of £176.38, lower than elsewhere because the City has its own police force) Source
Landlord licensingNoneWhat it means for you

Homes sold in the City of London in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Flat or maisonette92£788,171
Other26£5,287,131
Terraced1£980,000
Detached1£3,675,000

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.

What to check at a City of London check-in

  • Barbican flats: photograph the original fitted kitchens, Garchey waste units where they survive, underfloor or ceiling heating controls and the balcony planters.
  • Listed estate flats in the Barbican and Golden Lane: photograph original fittings and finishes close up, as many cannot be changed without consent.
  • Record every fob, key and car park or storage cage key, and note the estate office’s rules on moving in and lift booking.
  • Flats in converted warehouses and offices: photograph exposed brick, large windows and any comfort cooling units.
  • New apartment towers at Aldgate: photograph integrated appliances, ventilation units and balcony doors, and note concierge and parcel arrangements.
  • Photograph meter readings, which are often in a communal cupboard or read remotely, and ask which heating costs are in the service charge.

Do it yourself in City of London

  • No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
  • £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
  • The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
  • Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.

Start free Example report

Neighbourhoods

Areas of City of London

BarbicanGolden LaneSmithfield and FarringdonFleet Street and TempleAldgatePortsoken

Letting in City of London

Licensing, safety certificates, deposits and the local figures, for landlords.

Renting in City of London

Your check-in, getting your deposit back, and where to get help locally.

Free property report

EPC, sold prices, crime, flood risk and rental yield for any City of London postcode.
Questions

Inventories in City of London: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in City of London?

Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.

Do landlords need a licence in City of London?

Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme. Additional HMO licensing: No additional licensing scheme; only mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). Fees: Mandatory HMO licence: £600 on application, then a grant fee by number of lettings, from £450 (up to 5) to £1,050 (20 or more). Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in City of London?

Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.

Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?

Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.

Nearby

Neighbouring boroughs

WestminsterCamdenIslingtonHackneyTower HamletsSouthwarkAll areas

Ready when you have the keys

Start your City of London inventory today, on your phone. It’s free until you download it.

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