DIY InventoryRenting in Gosport: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Gosport can get help.
Homes to rent in Gosport
Gosport is a compact peninsula town between Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent, with a long naval history. The older streets in Forton, Elson and the town centre are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, while Bridgemary and Rowner have large post-war estates, some of them built for naval families and since regenerated. Lee-on-the-Solent has many bungalows and seafront flats, and former naval sites at Royal Clarence Yard and Haslar have been converted into apartments. Private renting is mostly terraced houses and flats.
Average rent: £1,169 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.9% 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 Gosport homes
- Seafront flats in Lee-on-the-Solent: look for salt corrosion on window frames, balcony rails and door furniture, and photograph any damp on exposed walls.
- Victorian terraces in Forton and the town centre: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and rear access.
- Converted naval buildings at Royal Clarence Yard and Haslar: note fob and key counts, communal areas, parking and the condition of large period windows.
- Post-war estate homes in Bridgemary: record the boiler, windows and doors, and the state of gardens and fencing.
- Low-lying homes near the harbour and Solent shore: look for signs of past flooding or tidal damp in ground-floor rooms.
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 private let can contact Gosport Borough Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Gosport Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Gosport: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Gosport?
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 Gosport get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Gosport Borough Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord.
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.