DIY InventoryRenting in Hillingdon: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Hillingdon can get help.
Homes to rent in Hillingdon
Hillingdon is London's second-largest borough, with 1930s Metro-land semis in Ruislip, Eastcote and Ickenham, larger houses in Northwood, and denser terraces and estates in Hayes and West Drayton. Private renting rose by almost 8 percentage points between 2011 and 2021, one of the biggest rises in London, to about a quarter of households. Heathrow and Brunel University drive demand for shared homes and HMOs, and the council has brought in borough-wide additional HMO licensing and Article 4 planning controls on new HMOs. New-build flats are going up around Hayes and Uxbridge.
Average rent: £1,581 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.4% 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 Hillingdon homes
- Shared homes let to airport workers and Brunel students: photograph each bedroom's lock and smoke alarm, the shared kitchen, and the fire doors and their closers.
- Extended Metro-land semis in Ruislip and Eastcote: photograph loft rooms, rear extensions and their rooflights, and any ceiling stains below flat roofs.
- Homes near Heathrow in Harlington, Hayes and West Drayton: photograph windows, seals and any secondary glazing or acoustic vents fitted against aircraft noise.
- Gardens and driveways on family houses: photograph lawns, fences, sheds and the drive surface at check-in.
- New-build flats in Hayes and Uxbridge: record fob, parking and post-box key counts and photograph balconies and integrated appliances.
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Hillingdon Council's private sector housing team, which takes complaints from tenants and can inspect and take enforcement action. Hillingdon Council: private renting.
Renting in Hillingdon: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Hillingdon?
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 Hillingdon get help?
Private tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Hillingdon Council's private sector housing team, which takes complaints from tenants and can inspect and take enforcement action.
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.