Renting in East Suffolk: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in East Suffolk

East Suffolk covers the Suffolk coast from Lowestoft to Felixstowe, with market towns and villages inland. Private lets are concentrated in Lowestoft and Felixstowe, from Victorian terraces and converted guest houses to modern flats, while Southwold, Aldeburgh and Walberswick have many second homes and holiday lets. Inland villages have timber-framed and brick cottages, many off the gas grid. Parts of the coast are affected by erosion and low-lying areas near the rivers and coast are at risk of flooding.

Average rent: £848 a month (ONS, September 2026). Source

On moving-in day

1. Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
2. Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
3. Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.

Things to look at in East Suffolk homes

• Seafront and harbour homes in Lowestoft and Felixstowe: photograph window frames and outside metalwork for salt corrosion and any damp on walls.
• Former guest houses split into flats in Lowestoft: photograph fire doors, smoke alarms, the communal stairs and each flat's meters.
• Timber-framed and listed cottages: photograph beams, uneven floors, old windows and any cracks in plaster so their condition is on record.
• Homes off the gas grid in rural villages: photograph the oil tank, its gauge and level, or the LPG tank, and the boiler service label.
• Rural homes with private drainage: photograph the septic tank or treatment plant cover and note when it was last emptied.

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 can contact East Suffolk Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect rented homes and take action against landlords. East Suffolk Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist