DIY InventoryRenting in Thanet: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Thanet can get help.
Homes to rent in Thanet
Thanet has one of the highest shares of private renters in the South East, with over a quarter of households renting privately. Margate and Cliftonville have many former hotels and large Victorian houses converted into flats and bedsits, which led to one of the country's earliest selective licensing schemes. Ramsgate has a large stock of listed Regency terraces, and Birchington and Westgate are mostly bungalows and family houses. Buyers and renters moving from London have pushed up demand in Margate and Ramsgate.
Average rent: £1,110 a month (ONS, June 2026), up 4.1% 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 Thanet homes
- Converted hotels and guest houses in Cliftonville: record each flat's front door, fire doors, alarms, shared hallways and meter cupboards.
- Seafront homes in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate: check window frames, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Listed Regency terraces in Ramsgate: photograph sash windows, shutters, plasterwork and basement areas for damp.
- Student lets near the university in Broadstairs: record each bedroom lock and key and the shared kitchen items.
- Bungalows in Birchington and Westgate: note flat-roof extensions, gutters, garages and garden condition.
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 Thanet District Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Thanet District Council: private renting.
Renting in Thanet: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Thanet?
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 Thanet get help?
Private tenants can contact Thanet District 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.