Renting in Guildford: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Guildford

Guildford is a county town with a busy rental market driven by the University of Surrey, the Royal Surrey County Hospital and fast trains to London. Private lets range from Victorian terraces and flats in the town centre to shared student houses in Onslow, Park Barn, Westborough and Stoughton. Outside the town the borough is mostly green belt villages with detached houses and period cottages, and there are large new developments at Ash and on the edges of Guildford. Prices are well above the national average.

Average rent: £1,731 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 5.7% on a year earlier. 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 Guildford homes

• Shared student houses near the University of Surrey: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen appliances.
• Victorian terraces in Stoughton and Charlotteville: check sash or older windows, damp at the base of walls and the condition of rear gardens.
• Flats in the town centre and near the station: note fob and key counts, parking, bike stores and bin store access.
• Hillside homes around the town centre: photograph steps, sloping paths and retaining walls, and note any cracking.
• Period cottages in the villages: record beams, uneven floors, open fireplaces and chimneys, and any oil tank or septic tank.
• New-build homes at Ash and on the town's edges: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.

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 Guildford Borough Council's housing standards team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Guildford Borough Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist