DIY InventoryRenting in Swale: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Swale can get help.
Homes to rent in Swale
Swale covers Sittingbourne, the market town of Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey. Private renting is close to the national average, with many lets in the Victorian terraces of Sittingbourne and Sheerness and in flats over shops. Sheppey also has large numbers of bungalows, holiday parks and chalets, some lived in all year. Sittingbourne and the villages around it have grown with big new-build estates for Medway and London commuters.
Average rent: £1,124 a month (ONS, December 2025), 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 Swale homes
- Coastal homes on Sheppey: check window frames, metal fittings, gutters and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Bungalows and chalets in Minster and Leysdown: photograph roofs, flat-roof extensions, damp patches and any electric storage heaters.
- Victorian terraces in Sittingbourne and Sheerness: record back yards, rear walls and any damp low on the walls.
- Listed and period homes in Faversham: photograph sash windows, old floors, fireplaces and any cracks in plaster.
- New-build estates around Iwade and Sittingbourne: note snagging marks, fences, turf and allocated parking.
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 Swale Borough Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, or use the council's 'Complain about a landlord' page. Swale Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Swale: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Swale?
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 Swale get help?
Private tenants can contact Swale Borough Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, or use the council's 'Complain about a landlord' page.
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.