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For tenantsRenting in South Oxfordshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in South Oxfordshire can get help.
Homes to rent in South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire is a largely rural district between Oxford, Reading and the Chilterns, with market towns at Henley, Thame, Wallingford and Didcot. Older homes are brick, flint and timber-framed cottages and Georgian town houses, and many villages are conservation areas; Didcot is the main growth town, with thousands of new-build homes. Private renting is below average and prices are among the highest in Oxfordshire. Science and research jobs at Culham and Harwell nearby bring demand for lets.
Average rent: £1,402 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.5% 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 South Oxfordshire homes
- New-build homes in Didcot's new estates: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and the garden, and note any estate management charge areas.
- Brick and flint cottages in the Chilterns villages: photograph walls inside for damp, beams, low doorways and the condition of any wood burner.
- Riverside homes in Henley, Wallingford and Goring: check ground floors, cellars and gardens for signs of past flooding from the Thames.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank and gauge level or LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
- Larger detached houses: record the garden, hedges, gates, garages and outbuildings, and agree what upkeep the tenant is expected to do.
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 South Oxfordshire District Council's Private Sector Housing Team (shared with the Vale of White Horse), which can inspect homes and take action against landlords. South Oxfordshire District Council: private renting.
Renting in South Oxfordshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in South Oxfordshire?
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 South Oxfordshire get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact South Oxfordshire District Council's Private Sector Housing Team (shared with the Vale of White Horse), 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your South Oxfordshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
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