DIY InventoryRenting in Southampton: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Southampton can get help.
Homes to rent in Southampton
Southampton is a port city with two universities, and almost three in ten households rented privately in 2021. Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Portswood, Bevois Valley, Shirley and Freemantle are heavily let as shared houses, which is why nine wards have additional HMO licensing. The city centre has many new apartment blocks and purpose-built student halls, while Millbrook, Weston and Thornhill have large post-war council estates and tower blocks. Social renting is also high.
Average rent: £1,257 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.4% 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 Southampton homes
- Student HMOs in Portswood, Swaythling and Bevois Valley: check the HMO licence and photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen, room by room.
- Victorian terraces: record the back garden, rear access, gutters and any damp in rear rooms and bay windows.
- Apartments in the city centre and Ocean Village: note fob, key and parking counts, the post box and bin store, and any balcony furniture.
- Tower blocks in Weston and Millbrook: photograph fire doors, smoke alarms and any building safety notices in the communal areas.
- Homes near the Itchen and Test estuaries: check window frames and outside metal fittings for salt corrosion, and look for condensation and mould.
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 Southampton City Council's private sector housing team, which inspects privately rented homes and enforces HMO licensing. Southampton City Council: private renting.
Renting in Southampton: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Southampton?
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 Southampton get help?
Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact Southampton City Council's private sector housing team, which inspects privately rented homes and enforces HMO licensing.
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.
Nearby areas
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