DIY InventoryRenting in Reading: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Reading can get help.
Homes to rent 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.
Average rent: £1,582 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 1.3% 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 Reading homes
- 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.
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 Reading Borough Council's private sector housing team. Reading Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Reading: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Reading?
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 Reading get help?
Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Reading Borough 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.