DIY Inventory

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South East · ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7

Inventory and check-in reports in Medway

Medway's five towns, Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham, have a large stock of Victorian terraces, many of them privately rented, alongside post-war estates and new riverside apartments. About one in five households rent privately, with shared houses near the universities' Medway campus and the town centres. New licensing schemes cover the central wards of Chatham, Gillingham and Strood.

Average rent£1,232£1,232 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 1.7% on a year earlier Source
Average house price£299,000£299,000 (UK HPI, July 2026), up 1.1% on a year earlier Source
Homes sold, last 12 months2,649Average price paid £325,855 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately20.2%20.2% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 17.1% in 2011 Source
Council tax£2,328.55£2,328.55 average Band D (2026/27), including Kent police, fire and average parish precepts Source
Landlord licensingSome areasWhat it means for you

Homes sold in Medway in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Terraced1,197£273,143
Semi-detached768£355,748
Detached343£509,488
Flat or maisonette275£176,873
Other66£600,451

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 Medway check-in

  • Victorian terraces in Gillingham and Chatham: photograph the rear yard, gutters, and any damp or mould in back kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Shared houses near the Medway campus: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the posted licence.
  • Hillside homes in Chatham: record steps, retaining walls and paths, and any cracks in external walls.
  • Riverside and dockyard apartments: note fob, key and parking counts, and photograph balconies and window seals.
  • Homes in the new licensing wards: photograph the licence and check it shows the right address and expiry date.

Do it yourself in Medway

  • 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 Medway

ChathamGillinghamRochesterStroodRainhamWalderslade and LordswoodChatham Maritime and St Mary's IslandHoo Peninsula

Letting in Medway

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

Renting in Medway

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 Medway postcode.
Questions

Inventories in Medway: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in Medway?

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 Medway?

£1,232 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 1.7% 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 Medway postcode.

Do landlords need a licence in Medway?

Selective licensing: Selective licensing has been approved for privately rented homes in seven wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, and Watling. The council's designation notice gave a start of 27 October 2026; a later landlord update gives 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2032, so check the council's page for the date. Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing has been approved for smaller HMOs (three or four people from two or more households) in six wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton and Watling, starting on the same date. Larger HMOs need the national mandatory licence everywhere. Fees: Proposed at £840 for a selective licence and £1,600 for an additional HMO licence, with discounts for accredited landlords (consultation, 2026) Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in Medway?

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

Nearby areas

GraveshamTonbridge and MallingMaidstoneSwaleAll areas

Ready when you have the keys

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