DIY InventoryRenting in Hastings: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hastings can get help.
Homes to rent in Hastings
Hastings and St Leonards is a hilly seaside town with one of the highest shares of private renting outside the big cities. Much of the rented stock is in large Regency and Victorian houses in the town centre and Central St Leonards that have been split into flats and bedsits, many on steep streets close to the sea. The Old Town has historic cottages and timber-framed houses, while Hollington, Baird and Ore have post-war estates. A selective licensing scheme ran in seven central wards from 2015 to 2020.
Average rent: £1,008 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 1.7% 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 Hastings homes
- Regency and Victorian houses split into flats in St Leonards and the town centre: photograph each flat's door, meters, fire doors, alarms and the shared hallway and stairs.
- Seafront homes: look for salt corrosion on window frames, balcony rails and door furniture, and damp on exposed walls.
- Hillside homes on steep streets: photograph steps, sloping paths, retaining walls and any cracking, which can come from ground movement.
- Old Town cottages: record beams, low doorways, uneven floors, open fireplaces and any damp in basements or rear walls.
- Sash windows in period conversions: photograph cords, locks, cracked panes and any rot.
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 Hastings Borough Council's housing renewal (private sector housing) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Hastings Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Hastings: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hastings?
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 Hastings get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Hastings Borough Council's housing renewal (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.