Renting in Horsham: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Horsham

Horsham district is a large, mostly rural part of West Sussex, centred on the market town of Horsham, with big villages such as Southwater, Billingshurst, Storrington and Henfield and the small town of Steyning under the South Downs. Most homes are owner-occupied detached and semi-detached houses, many on estates built since the 1980s, and large new developments have been added north and west of Horsham. Private renting is below the regional average, with rented homes concentrated in Horsham's terraces and flats and in village cottages.

Average rent: £1,490 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 4.8% on a year earlier. Source

On moving-in day

1. Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
2. Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
3. Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.

Things to look at in Horsham homes

• Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Horsham: check sash windows, damp at the base of walls and the condition of rear gardens.
• Flats near Horsham station and the town centre: note fob and key counts, parking spaces, bike stores and bin store access.
• Period cottages in Steyning, Henfield and the villages: record beams, uneven floors, open fireplaces and any flint or timber-framed walls.
• Rural homes off the mains: photograph oil tank gauges, the boiler and any septic tank or private drainage.
• Homes near the Arun and Adur floodplains, such as around Pulborough: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
• New-build homes on the large estates around Horsham and Southwater: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.

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 Horsham District Council's environmental health (housing standards) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Horsham District Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist