DIY InventoryRenting in Tandridge: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tandridge can get help.
Homes to rent in Tandridge
Tandridge is a largely rural, owner-occupied district in the Green Belt on the edge of London, with some of the highest prices in the South East. Private renting is below the regional average, with lets concentrated in Caterham, Whyteleafe and Oxted, close to the railway lines into London. The council has used an Article 4 Direction to control small HMOs in Caterham and Whyteleafe. The villages have many period cottages and large detached houses.
Average rent: £1,649 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.7% 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 Tandridge homes
- Hillside homes in Caterham and Whyteleafe: photograph steps, driveways, retaining walls and sloping gardens.
- Period cottages in Lingfield and Godstone: check beams, low doorways, small windows and any damp in older walls.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level and boiler service label.
- Flats in converted barracks and office buildings in Caterham: note fob counts, parking, bin stores and communal areas.
- Large detached houses: photograph gardens, outbuildings, gates, garage doors and any alarm panels and codes.
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 Tandridge District Council's environmental health and private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Tandridge District Council: private renting.
Renting in Tandridge: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tandridge?
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 Tandridge get help?
Private tenants can contact Tandridge District Council's environmental health and private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions.
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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