DIY InventoryRenting in Three Rivers: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Three Rivers can get help.
Homes to rent in Three Rivers
Three Rivers is an affluent, mostly owner-occupied district on the north-west edge of London, with house prices among the highest in the East of England. Private renting is well below the national average, with lets in Rickmansworth, Croxley Green and South Oxhey, and many tenants commuting on the Metropolitan line. South Oxhey is a large former London County Council estate, while Chorleywood and Moor Park have large detached homes. The council has been looking at tighter rules for small HMOs.
Average rent: £1,807 a month (ONS, March 2026), up 3.3% 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 Three Rivers homes
- Large detached houses in Chorleywood and Moor Park: photograph gardens, gates, garages, outbuildings and any alarm panels and codes.
- Post-war estate homes in South Oxhey: check window seals, communal areas in flat blocks and any work done under the regeneration.
- Flats near Rickmansworth station: record fob and key counts, allocated parking, bin store access and the intercom handset.
- Homes near the Colne, Gade and Chess rivers and the canal: check ground floors and walls for damp or past flood marks.
- Shared houses near Watford: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen.
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 Three Rivers District Council's environmental health team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Three Rivers District Council: private renting.
Renting in Three Rivers: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Three Rivers?
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 Three Rivers get help?
Private tenants can contact Three Rivers District Council's environmental health 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
WatfordHertsmereSt AlbansDacorumBuckinghamshireHillingdonHarrowAll areas
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