DIY Inventory← All areas · Tonbridge and Malling
For tenantsRenting in Tonbridge and Malling: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tonbridge and Malling can get help.
Homes to rent in Tonbridge and Malling
Tonbridge and Malling is a largely owner-occupied borough with one of the lowest shares of private renters in the South East. Tonbridge has Victorian and Edwardian terraces popular with London commuters, while the Medway valley towns of Snodland, Aylesford and Larkfield mix older works terraces with large new estates. Kings Hill is a planned community on a former airfield, and the rural villages have oast houses and period cottages. Prices are well above the national average.
Average rent: £1,489 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 3.2% 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 Tonbridge and Malling homes
- Homes near the River Medway in Tonbridge, East Peckham and Aylesford: check ground floors and walls for damp or past flood marks.
- Victorian terraces in Tonbridge and Snodland: photograph back gardens, rear walls, sash or replacement windows and any damp in rear rooms.
- New-build homes at Kings Hill and Holborough Lakes: note snagging marks, fences, turf and management company areas.
- Converted oast houses and rural cottages: photograph roundels, beams, wood burners and any oil tank or LPG supply.
- Flats near Tonbridge station: record fob and key counts, allocated parking and bin store access.
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 Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's private sector housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Tonbridge and Malling: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tonbridge and Malling?
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 Tonbridge and Malling get help?
Private tenants can contact Tonbridge and Malling 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 Tonbridge and Malling home’s condition today, on your phone.
Start free