DIY InventoryRenting in Hart: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hart can get help.
Homes to rent in Hart
Hart is a mostly suburban and rural district in north-east Hampshire, centred on Fleet, with Yateley, Blackwater, Hook and a ring of historic villages such as Hartley Wintney and Odiham. Most homes are owner-occupied detached and semi-detached houses on estates built from the 1960s onwards, including large newer developments at Elvetham Heath and on former army land at Church Crookham. Private renting is well below the regional average, and rents and prices are high, helped by fast trains to London.
Average rent: £1,374 a month (ONS, September 2025), up 4.4% 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 Hart homes
- Detached and semi-detached family houses in Fleet and Yateley: record gardens, fences, sheds, garages and the condition of driveways.
- Newer homes at Elvetham Heath and the former barracks at Church Crookham: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.
- Timber-framed and Georgian houses in Odiham and Hartley Wintney: photograph beams, uneven floors, open fireplaces and sash windows.
- Rural homes off the mains: photograph oil tank gauges, the boiler and any septic tank or private drainage.
- Flats in Fleet town centre: note fob and key counts, parking, bike stores and bin store access.
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 Hart District Council's private sector housing team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Hart District Council: private renting.
Renting in Hart: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hart?
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 Hart get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Hart District Council's 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.