DIY InventoryRenting in Sevenoaks: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Sevenoaks can get help.
Homes to rent in Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is one of the most expensive districts in Kent, with large detached houses around Sevenoaks town, period cottages in villages such as Otford, Shoreham and Westerham, and post-war estates in Swanley. Most of the district is Green Belt and the Kent Downs, so new building is limited. Fewer households rent privately than the national average; lets are mostly family houses and flats near the stations on the lines into London. Social housing is concentrated in Swanley and parts of Sevenoaks town.
Average rent: £1,828 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.9% 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 Sevenoaks homes
- Period cottages in villages such as Otford, Shoreham and Westerham: photograph beams, low ceilings, chimney breasts and any damp on solid walls.
- Large detached houses: record the garden, hedges, gates, garages and any outbuildings, and agree what upkeep the tenant is expected to do.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank and gauge level, or the LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
- Flats near Sevenoaks and Swanley stations: note fob, key and parking permit counts and the bin store arrangements.
- Homes with wood burners or open fires: photograph the stove glass, hearth and any sweep certificate left for the tenant.
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, damp or safety problems can contact Sevenoaks District Council's Private Sector Housing team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords. Sevenoaks District Council: private renting.
Renting in Sevenoaks: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Sevenoaks?
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 Sevenoaks get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact Sevenoaks District Council's Private Sector Housing team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.
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.