DIY Inventory

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London borough · W8, W10, W11, W14, SW3, SW5

Inventory and check-in reports in Kensington and Chelsea

Kensington and Chelsea is the most expensive place to rent in the country, and about four in ten households rent privately. Most homes are flats: lateral and duplex flats in stucco terraces, red-brick mansion blocks and mews houses, many with porters, lifts and shared garden squares. North Kensington is different, with large post-war estates and towers, and the borough saw England's biggest rise in social renting between 2011 and 2021. Short and corporate lets and high-value furnished tenancies are common, so inventories tend to list a lot of contents.

Average rent£3,739£3,739 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.0% on a year earlier; the highest average rent of any local authority in the UK Source
Average house price£1,204,000£1,204,000 (UK HPI, August 2026, provisional), down 13.8% on a year earlier Source
Homes sold, last 12 months1,078Average price paid £1,816,094 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately39.6%39.6% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 35.8% in 2011 Source
Council tax£1,643.44£1,643.44 (Band D, 2026/27, including the GLA precept); a little more in the garden square areas, which pay an extra levy Source
Landlord licensingHMOsWhat it means for you

Homes sold in Kensington and Chelsea in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Flat or maisonette793£1,111,969
Terraced166£3,971,146
Other103£2,438,827
Semi-detached12£10,412,371
Detached4£10,150,000

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.

What to check at a Kensington and Chelsea check-in

  • Furnished high-value lets: photograph each piece of furniture, rugs, curtains and artwork close up, and record makes of appliances.
  • Mansion blocks with porters: note fobs, porter-held keys, post box keys and lift access, and photograph the communal entrance.
  • Stucco terraces: photograph the front steps, railings, balconies and any cracked or flaking stucco visible from the flat.
  • Mews houses: photograph the garage door, its remote and any cobbled forecourt, and check for damp in ground-floor rooms.
  • Garden square access: record the garden key or card and any terms that come with it.
  • Basement and lower-ground flats: photograph lightwells, vault storage under the pavement, and walls at floor level for damp.

Do it yourself in Kensington and Chelsea

  • No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
  • £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
  • The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
  • Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.

Start free Example report

Neighbourhoods

Areas of Kensington and Chelsea

Notting HillNorth KensingtonKensingtonHolland ParkSouth KensingtonEarl's CourtChelseaWest Brompton and World's End

Letting in Kensington and Chelsea

Licensing, safety certificates, deposits and the local figures, for landlords.

Renting in Kensington and Chelsea

Your check-in, getting your deposit back, and where to get help locally.

Free property report

EPC, sold prices, crime, flood risk and rental yield for any Kensington and Chelsea postcode.
Questions

Inventories in Kensington and Chelsea: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in Kensington and Chelsea?

Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.

What is the average rent in Kensington and Chelsea?

£3,739 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.0% on a year earlier; the highest average rent of any local authority in the UK. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Kensington and Chelsea postcode.

Do landlords need a licence in Kensington and Chelsea?

Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme is in force; homes let to a single household do not need a council licence. Additional HMO licensing: A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme came into force on 1 June 2023 and expires on 31 May 2028. It covers most HMOs let to three or more people from two or more households sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet that fall outside mandatory licensing. Fees: About £1,493 for an additional HMO licence (Part A £1,004 on application, Part B £489 once approved, plus £72 for each extra room), with a £200 discount for accredited landlords (council HMO licensing FAQs). Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in Kensington and Chelsea?

Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.

Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?

Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.

Nearby

Neighbouring boroughs

WestminsterHammersmith and FulhamBrentWandsworthAll areas

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