DIY InventoryRenting in Eastbourne: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Eastbourne can get help.
Homes to rent in Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a seaside town with a large stock of Victorian and Edwardian houses, many of them converted to flats, especially in the town centre, Seaside and Meads. Purpose-built flats line much of the seafront, and Sovereign Harbour adds modern marina housing. Langney and Hampden Park are mainly post-war estates and suburbs. The town has an older population than average and many retirement flats.
Average rent: £1,169 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 1.1% 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 Eastbourne homes
- Flats in converted Victorian villas: photograph sash windows, the communal hall and stairs, fire doors and smoke alarms, and note key and fob counts.
- Seafront flats: photograph window frames, balcony rails and outside metalwork for salt corrosion, and any damp on outside walls.
- Purpose-built blocks: photograph the lift, bin store and entry system, and note fob and key counts and any service charge rules given to the tenant.
- Sovereign Harbour homes: photograph balconies, parking spaces and gate fobs, and note marina or estate rules given to the tenant.
- Flats over shops in the town centre: photograph the separate entrance, stairs and fire doors, and note the key count for each door.
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 Eastbourne Borough Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect rented homes and take action against landlords. Eastbourne Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Eastbourne: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Eastbourne?
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 Eastbourne get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact Eastbourne Borough Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect rented homes and take action against landlords.
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.