DIY InventoryRenting in Test Valley: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Test Valley can get help.
Homes to rent in Test Valley
Test Valley runs from Andover in the north to Romsey and the edge of Southampton in the south. Andover grew as a London overspill town, so much of its housing is post-war estates, with large new-build areas added recently. Romsey and the river villages have older period homes, and many rural cottages are thatched or listed. Private renting is below the South East average, with some lets to military families from the nearby army bases.
Average rent: £1,235 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 6.6% 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 Test Valley homes
- Thatched cottages in the Test valley villages: photograph the thatch, chimneys, low beams and any damp in old walls.
- Overspill estate homes in Andover: check window seals, garages in blocks and shared paths and parking courts.
- New-build homes at Augusta Park and Picket Twenty: note snagging marks, fences, turf and any management company areas.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level and boiler service label.
- Homes near the River Test in Romsey and Stockbridge: check ground floors and walls for damp or past flood marks.
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 Test Valley Borough Council's Private Sector Housing Team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Test Valley Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Test Valley: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Test Valley?
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 Test Valley get help?
Private tenants can contact Test Valley Borough Council's 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.
Ready when you have the keys
Record your Test Valley home’s condition today, on your phone.
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