DIY InventoryRenting in Redbridge: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Redbridge can get help.
Homes to rent in Redbridge
Redbridge is mostly suburban, with large estates of interwar semi-detached and terraced houses and older Edwardian terraces nearer Ilford. Private renting grew faster than almost anywhere between 2011 and 2021 (from 22.9% to 30.4% of households) while home ownership fell sharply. Ilford town centre has the most new-build flats, and the Elizabeth line stations at Ilford, Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Chadwell Heath draw commuters. Shared houses are common enough that the council licenses small HMOs across the whole borough.
Average rent: £1,724 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 2.5% 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 Redbridge homes
- Interwar semis often have original or early double-glazed bay windows: photograph each window’s seals, handles, locks and any condensation between panes.
- Converted loft rooms and rear extensions are common: photograph ceilings and wall junctions for cracks or damp staining, and note any rooflights.
- In shared houses, photograph every bedroom door lock and note which keys open which rooms, plus the condition of the shared kitchen and bathroom.
- Front drives and side gates: photograph paving, gate latches and the bins provided, and note whose responsibility the garden is.
- Flats over shop parades in Ilford, Gants Hill and Barkingside: photograph the communal entrance, stairs and any rear access, and record fob and key counts.
- Check and photograph the boiler, meter cupboard and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, which are often in an under-stairs cupboard in these houses.
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
Redbridge Council’s private sector housing service deals with disrepair, unsafe conditions and unlicensed rented homes; tenants can report problems through the council’s housing pages. Redbridge Council: private renting.
Renting in Redbridge: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Redbridge?
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 Redbridge get help?
Redbridge Council’s private sector housing service deals with disrepair, unsafe conditions and unlicensed rented homes; tenants can report problems through the council’s housing pages.
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.