DIY InventoryRenting in Isle of Wight: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Isle of Wight can get help.
Homes to rent in Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight's private rented stock is spread across its seaside towns and Newport. Many of the large Victorian houses, guest houses and hotels in Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin have been converted into flats and shared homes, and the council notes that the island has many HMOs, as in other seaside areas. Inland and in the West Wight there are stone cottages, bungalows and holiday homes. Private renting grew between 2011 and 2021, and rents rose faster than the South East average in 2026.
Average rent: £953 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.8% 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 Isle of Wight homes
- Seafront homes in Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin: look for salt corrosion on window frames, balcony rails and door furniture, and damp on exposed walls.
- Former guest houses and hotels converted into flats: photograph each flat's door, meters, fire doors, alarms and the shared hallway.
- Homes in Ventnor and on the Undercliff: photograph any cracks in walls, sticking doors and garden walls, as the area has known ground movement.
- Thatched or stone cottages in the villages: record the roof, chimneys, beams and any damp in thick walls, and the oil tank if there is one.
- Homes near the Medina and low-lying harbours: look for signs of past flooding in ground-floor rooms.
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 the Isle of Wight Council's housing renewal (private sector housing) team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord. Isle of Wight Council: private renting.
Renting in Isle of Wight: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Isle of Wight?
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 Isle of Wight get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a private let can contact the Isle of Wight 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.
Nearby areas
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