DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Lewisham
Lewisham has a mix of Victorian terraces and villas, many converted into flats, inter-war cottage estates in Bellingham and Downham, and post-war council blocks in Deptford and New Cross. Social renting is high and more than a quarter of households rented privately at the 2021 Census. Goldsmiths keeps a student market in New Cross, while new towers in Lewisham town centre and along the Deptford riverside have added many rented flats.
Homes sold in Lewisham in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 1,137 | £370,249 |
| Terraced | 698 | £673,156 |
| Semi-detached | 186 | £767,834 |
| Other | 74 | £2,251,742 |
| Detached | 23 | £1,134,015 |
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 Lewisham check-in
- Victorian conversions in Brockley and Forest Hill: photograph sash windows, cornices, fireplaces and any cracks in the ceilings.
- Student shared houses in New Cross: photograph each bedroom lock and furniture, the shared kitchen and the fire alarm and fire doors.
- Ex-council houses in Bellingham and Downham: photograph the garden, fences, sheds and outside drains, and check windows and doors close properly.
- New-build flats in Lewisham and Deptford: record fobs, bike store and bin store access, and photograph the ventilation unit and balcony.
- Flats on hillside streets: photograph steps, paths and boundary walls, and look for damp on walls built against the slope.
Do it yourself in Lewisham
- 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.
Inventories in Lewisham: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Lewisham?
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 Lewisham?
£1,832 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 2.1% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Lewisham postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Lewisham?
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers most of the borough (three designations, from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029) for privately rented homes not covered by HMO licensing; Telegraph Hill and parts of Blackheath are not included. Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough for HMOs let to three or four unrelated people (larger ones need a mandatory licence), from 5 April 2022 until 4 April 2027. Fees: A selective licence costs £640 for five years: £160 on application and £480 when it is granted, with discounts for accredited landlords and charities taken off the second payment. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Lewisham?
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.
Neighbouring boroughs
Ready when you have the keys
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