DIY InventoryRenting in Surrey Heath: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Surrey Heath can get help.
Homes to rent in Surrey Heath
Surrey Heath is a largely owner-occupied borough on the Surrey and Hampshire border, with prices well above the national average. Private renting is concentrated in Camberley and Frimley, where there are flats, older terraces and homes let to hospital and military staff. The former Deepcut barracks has become a large new-build estate. The villages have many large detached houses on wooded plots.
Average rent: £1,510 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 2.0% 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 Surrey Heath homes
- Homes on wooded heathland plots: photograph gutters, roofs, driveways and trees close to the house, as leaves and roots cause problems.
- New-build homes at Mindenhurst, Deepcut: note snagging marks, fences, turf, allocated parking and any management company rules.
- Flats in Camberley town centre: record fob and key counts, parking permits, bin store access and the intercom handset.
- Large detached houses in Windlesham and Chobham: photograph gardens, outbuildings, gates and any alarm panels and codes.
- Lets to hospital or military staff in Frimley: record furniture supplied and its condition, as many are let furnished.
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
Private tenants can contact Surrey Heath Borough Council's environmental health team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its housing team for advice. Surrey Heath Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Surrey Heath: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Surrey Heath?
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 Surrey Heath get help?
Private tenants can contact Surrey Heath Borough Council's environmental health team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its housing team for advice.
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 Surrey Heath home’s condition today, on your phone.
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