DIY InventoryRenting in Lambeth: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Lambeth can get help.
Homes to rent in Lambeth
Lambeth stretches from the South Bank down to Streatham and West Norwood. Much of its private rented housing is Victorian and Edwardian terraces converted into flats, plus mansion blocks in Clapham, Brixton and Streatham, while large council estates make up a big part of the stock and only about a third of households own their home. A study for the council estimated private renting at about a third of homes in 2022, rising to over half in Vauxhall, where riverside towers have been built in recent years.
Average rent: £2,525 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.7% 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 Lambeth homes
- Flats in converted Victorian houses: photograph shared hallways, fire doors, sash windows and any cracks above doorways.
- Mansion blocks in Streatham and Clapham: note communal door keys, post box keys and lift access, and photograph radiators and old timber floors.
- New-build towers in Vauxhall: record fobs, parking and concierge arrangements, and photograph balconies, extractor fans and the heating interface unit.
- Ex-council flats on estates: photograph the entry system, meter cupboard and any communal heating controls.
- Basement and garden flats: photograph walls at floor level, window wells and outside drains for damp or blockages.
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
Lambeth Council's private sector housing team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; contact it through lambeth.gov.uk. Lambeth Council: private renting.
Renting in Lambeth: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Lambeth?
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 Lambeth get help?
Lambeth Council's private sector housing team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; contact it through lambeth.gov.uk.
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.