DIY InventoryRenting in Hackney: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hackney can get help.
Homes to rent in Hackney
Hackney has one of the highest shares of social housing in England, with large post-war estates across the borough, and fewer than a quarter of households own their home. The private rented sector, about a third of households in 2021, is mostly Victorian terraces converted into flats, warehouse conversions and new-build blocks in Shoreditch, Dalston and Hackney Wick. Many homes are flat-shares and HMOs let to young sharers. From May 2026 most privately rented homes need a licence from the council.
Average rent: £2,658 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.6% 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 Hackney homes
- Victorian terraces converted into flats: photograph the shared hallway and stairs, the fire doors and the meter cupboard, and count the keys for the street door and the flat.
- Flat-shares and HMOs: photograph each bedroom's lock and smoke alarm, the shared kitchen appliances and the fridge and cupboard space given to each tenant.
- Warehouse conversions in Shoreditch and Hackney Wick: photograph exposed brick, concrete floors and large steel-framed windows, where marks and condensation are common.
- Estate flats: note entry-phone and lift working on the day, the fob count and the condition of balconies and bin chutes.
- Older sash windows in Stoke Newington and De Beauvoir: check cords, locks and draughts and photograph any rot on the sills.
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 in Hackney can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to the council's private sector housing team, and check whether their home should be licensed through the council's property licensing service. Hackney Council: private renting.
Renting in Hackney: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hackney?
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 Hackney get help?
Private tenants in Hackney can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to the council's private sector housing team, and check whether their home should be licensed through the council's property licensing service.
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.
Neighbouring boroughs
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