DIY InventoryRenting in Greenwich: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Greenwich can get help.
Homes to rent in Greenwich
Greenwich mixes Georgian and Victorian terraces in Greenwich, Blackheath and Plumstead with some of London's largest post-war estates in Woolwich and Thamesmead. Since the 2000s, riverside regeneration at Greenwich Peninsula, the Royal Arsenal and Kidbrooke has added thousands of new-build flats in towers and mid-rise blocks. About a quarter of households rented privately at the 2021 census, and social renting is still common. The council licenses smaller HMOs borough-wide and runs selective licensing in the Plumstead and Woolwich area, with a larger scheme under consultation.
Average rent: £1,995 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 6.1% 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 Greenwich homes
- Tower flats on the Peninsula and at the Royal Arsenal: record fob, parking-fob and post-box key counts and photograph the balcony, its drainage and the glass balustrade.
- Georgian and Victorian sash windows in Greenwich and Blackheath: photograph cords, catches and any rot or flaking paint on the sills.
- Victorian terraces in Plumstead let as shared homes: photograph each room's door lock, smoke alarm and fire door closers, and list which keys open which rooms.
- Post-war estate blocks in Woolwich and Thamesmead: note entry-phone, lift and communal-area condition on the day, and photograph any damp in bathrooms and window reveals.
- Inter-war houses in Eltham: photograph the garden, fences and any outbuildings, and the condition of the boiler and radiators.
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
Private tenants can report disrepair, damp and mould or unsafe conditions to the Royal Borough of Greenwich's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take enforcement action. Royal Borough of Greenwich: private renting.
Renting in Greenwich: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Greenwich?
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 Greenwich get help?
Private tenants can report disrepair, damp and mould or unsafe conditions to the Royal Borough of Greenwich's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take enforcement action.
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.