DIY InventoryRenting in Lewisham: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Lewisham can get help.
Homes to rent 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.
Average rent: £1,832 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 2.1% 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 Lewisham homes
- 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.
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
Lewisham Council's private sector housing team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; contact it through lewisham.gov.uk. Lewisham Council: private renting.
Renting in Lewisham: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Lewisham?
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 Lewisham get help?
Lewisham Council's private sector housing team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; contact it through lewisham.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.