DIY InventoryRenting in Mole Valley: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Mole Valley can get help.
Homes to rent in Mole Valley
Mole Valley is a mostly owner-occupied part of Surrey, with the towns of Dorking and Leatherhead, the suburban villages of Ashtead, Fetcham and Bookham, and rural villages in the Surrey Hills. Private lets are mainly flats in the town centres, Victorian terraces in Dorking and family houses in the suburbs. Many rural homes are older cottages, some listed and off mains gas, and Charlwood and Hookwood sit next to Gatwick.
Average rent: £1,551 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.4% 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 Mole Valley homes
- Older cottages in the Surrey Hills villages: photograph beams, uneven floors, any wood burner and flue, and damp in solid walls.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler service label.
- Flats in Leatherhead and Dorking town centres: note the communal entrance, fire doors, bike and bin stores, and key and fob counts.
- Homes near the River Mole: record any signs of past flooding on floors and lower walls.
- Homes in Charlwood and Hookwood near Gatwick: note window seals and any secondary glazing, and test that windows open and lock.
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
Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact Mole Valley District Council's housing team, which deals with repairs in rented homes and HMO licensing. Mole Valley District Council: private renting.
Renting in Mole Valley: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Mole Valley?
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 Mole Valley get help?
Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact Mole Valley District Council's housing team, which deals with repairs in rented homes and HMO licensing.
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your Mole Valley home’s condition today, on your phone.
Start free