DIY InventoryRenting in Southwark: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Southwark can get help.
Homes to rent in Southwark
Southwark has one of the largest stocks of council and social housing in England (39.7% of households rented socially in 2021), but private renting is growing fast, from 23.7% to 28.7% of households between 2011 and 2021. Many leaseholders on council estates let their flats privately, and Victorian terraces in Peckham, Camberwell and East Dulwich are often split into flats. The north of the borough has converted warehouses and many new-build towers, with major regeneration at Elephant and Castle, the Aylesbury estate and Canada Water.
Average rent: £2,516 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 7.3% 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 Southwark homes
- Ex-council flats on estates: photograph the front door, entry phone, communal landing and bin chute or store, and record every fob and key.
- Victorian terrace conversions in Peckham, Camberwell and East Dulwich: photograph sash windows, shared hallways and the meter cupboard, and note which meters belong to the flat.
- Warehouse conversions in Bermondsey and Shad Thames: photograph exposed brick, timber floors and large metal-framed windows, where marks and condensation show.
- New-build towers at Elephant and Castle and Canada Water: photograph integrated appliances, extractor and ventilation units, and balcony doors and decking.
- In older terraces, photograph any damp or mould on bathroom ceilings and behind furniture, as these are common in converted flats.
- Note bike store access, parking permits and concierge or parcel room arrangements in managed blocks.
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
Southwark Council’s private housing and environmental health service can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; council leaseholders’ tenants can also report communal repairs to the council as freeholder. Southwark Council: private renting.
Renting in Southwark: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Southwark?
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 Southwark get help?
Southwark Council’s private housing and environmental health service can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; council leaseholders’ tenants can also report communal repairs to the council as freeholder.
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.