DIY InventoryRenting in Portsmouth: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Portsmouth can get help.
Homes to rent in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is England's most densely populated city outside London, built mostly on Portsea Island with rows of Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Southsea and Fratton have a large private rented sector, with many shared houses let to University of Portsmouth students and young workers, and every HMO in the city needs a licence. The city centre has post-war estates, towers and purpose-built student blocks, while Gunwharf Quays has modern waterfront apartments. On the mainland, Cosham, Drayton and Paulsgrove are mostly inter-war and post-war estates.
Average rent: £1,368 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 Portsmouth homes
- Shared houses in Southsea and Fratton: note the HMO licence number and photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and closers, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Seafront homes in Southsea and Eastney: record salt marks, rust on window fittings and damp on exposed walls.
- Victorian terraces with small yards: photograph damp at the base of walls, rear yards and where bins are kept on narrow streets.
- Waterfront apartments at Gunwharf: note fob counts, parking bays and balconies.
- Low-lying streets near the harbours: photograph any damp low on walls and air bricks, as parts of the island can flood.
- Converted Southsea villas split into flats: record communal hallways, meter cupboards and the key count for each door.
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Portsmouth City Council's private sector housing team. Portsmouth City Council: private renting.
Renting in Portsmouth: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Portsmouth City Council's private sector housing team.
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.