DIY InventoryRenting in Croydon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Croydon can get help.
Homes to rent in Croydon
Croydon's north has dense Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Thornton Heath, Norbury and South Norwood, many divided into flats or let as shared houses. Central Croydon has many new towers and offices converted into flats, while the south of the borough is leafy suburbs of interwar and post-war houses. About a quarter of households rent privately, and from September 2026 the council licenses private lets in 14 wards and all smaller HMOs.
Average rent: £1,586 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.4% 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 Croydon homes
- In flats converted from offices in central Croydon, photograph window openings and restrictors, ventilation grilles and any signs of overheating or condensation in small rooms.
- In new-build towers, record fob, lift, bike store and post box key counts, and photograph the fire door, its closer and the heat interface unit.
- In Victorian terraces split into flats in Thornton Heath and Norbury, photograph the shared entrance and meter cupboards, and note which meters belong to the flat.
- Check sash and older timber windows in period conversions for rot, broken cords and draughts.
- In suburban houses in Purley and Coulsdon, photograph gardens, fences, garages and driveways, and note who maintains them.
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
Croydon Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and runs its landlord licensing schemes. Croydon Council: private renting.
Renting in Croydon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Croydon?
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 Croydon get help?
Croydon Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and runs its landlord licensing schemes.
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.