DIY InventoryRenting in Hertsmere: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hertsmere can get help.
Homes to rent in Hertsmere
Hertsmere lies just north of London, made up of Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Bushey, Radlett and green belt villages. Borehamwood's large post-war estates were built for families moving out of London, and many former council homes there are now privately let, alongside newer flats near the film studios. Bushey, Radlett and Potters Bar have interwar and Edwardian family houses and blocks of flats, with some very large detached homes. Prices and rents are high, and private renting grew faster than across the East of England between 2011 and 2021.
Average rent: £1,789 a month (ONS, January 2026), up 4.1% 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 Hertsmere homes
- Post-war estate houses and maisonettes in Borehamwood: record the boiler, windows and doors, and communal areas, bin stores and garages.
- Flats in Borehamwood, Bushey and Potters Bar town centres: note fob and key counts, parking spaces and any lift or communal heating.
- Large detached houses in Radlett and Bushey Heath: photograph gardens, gates, alarm systems and garden equipment left in place.
- Interwar semis in Potters Bar: record original features, replacement windows, garages and extensions.
- Shared homes in Potters Bar: an Article 4 direction applies to new small HMOs there, so note the licence or planning position and photograph each room's lock and furniture.
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 Hertsmere Borough Council's private sector housing team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Hertsmere Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Hertsmere: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hertsmere?
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 Hertsmere get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact Hertsmere Borough 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.
Nearby areas
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