DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Reading
Reading has a large private rented sector, with almost a third of households renting privately in 2021. Victorian terraces close to the centre, in Redlands, Katesgrove, Oxford Road and Battle, are widely let as shared houses to students and young workers, and every HMO in the borough now needs a licence. The town centre has many new apartment blocks and office conversions near the station, while Whitley, Southcote and Tilehurst are mostly inter-war and post-war estates. Selective licensing is planned for Battle, Redlands and Park wards.
Homes sold in Reading in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 558 | £352,947 |
| Flat or maisonette | 433 | £232,980 |
| Semi-detached | 331 | £454,845 |
| Detached | 147 | £653,877 |
| Other | 44 | £2,031,253 |
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 Reading check-in
- Shared houses in Redlands and near the university: note the HMO licence number and photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen separately.
- Victorian terraces off Oxford Road and in Katesgrove: record damp at the base of walls, rear extensions and small yards and bins.
- Apartment blocks and office conversions in the town centre: note fob counts, the intercom, parking and bike stores, and check windows and ventilation.
- Homes near the Thames and the Kennet in Caversham and the centre: photograph any tide marks, damp low on walls and air bricks.
- Post-war homes in Whitley and Southcote: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and older boilers.
Do it yourself in Reading
- 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 Reading: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Reading?
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 Reading?
£1,582 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 1.3% 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 Reading postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Reading?
Selective licensing: No selective licensing in force yet. The council plans selective licensing of all privately rented homes in Battle ward first, then Redlands and Park wards in phases; its page says the formal designations have not yet been made. Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2031, covering HMOs of three or four people and other HMOs outside the mandatory scheme. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Reading?
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 areas
Ready when you have the keys
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