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

Homes to rent in Hounslow

Hounslow runs from Victorian Chiswick in the east to inter-war suburbs around Heston, Hounslow and Feltham in the west, with Heathrow on its western edge. Private renting grew faster here than in most of London between 2011 and 2021 and became the borough's most common tenure. Many 1930s family houses are let as family homes or as shared houses, which is why the council moved to borough-wide HMO licensing in 2025. Brentford and Hounslow town centre have a growing number of new-build flats.

Average rent: £1,945 a month (ONS, July 2026), up 3.1% 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 Hounslow homes

• Loft conversions and rear extensions on 1930s semis: photograph ceilings, skylights and the joins between old and new walls for cracks or damp.
• Shared houses: photograph each bedroom door, its lock and the number of keys, and record the condition of the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
• Double glazing near the Heathrow flight paths: check every window opens, locks and seals, and photograph any misted or cracked units.
• New-build flats in Brentford and the town centre: note fobs, parking permits and bin store access, and photograph the meter cupboard and any communal heating unit.
• Older Chiswick conversions: photograph sash windows, cords and locks, and any damp at the base of walls or under bay windows.
• Front and back gardens: photograph fences, gates, sheds and the lawn, since gardens are common in this borough's houses.

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

Hounslow Council's private sector housing team deals with disrepair, unsafe conditions and unlicensed HMOs in privately rented homes; contact it through the housing pages of hounslow.gov.uk. Hounslow Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist