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London borough · E1, E1W, E2, E3, E14

Inventory and check-in reports in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets has one of the highest shares of private renting in England (38.2% in 2021) and a large social housing sector (35.9%), with relatively few owner-occupiers. Much of the private rented stock is in flats: high-rise towers at Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, converted warehouses in Wapping and Limehouse, and former council flats let by leaseholders. There are Georgian terraces in Spitalfields and Victorian streets in Bow and Bethnal Green, and Queen Mary University brings student shared houses around Mile End.

Average rent£2,462£2,462 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.8% on a year earlier Source
Average house price£447,950£447,950 (UK HPI, August 2026), down 13.3% on a year earlier (based on a small number of sales) Source
Homes sold, last 12 months1,746Average price paid £581,451 (HM Land Registry)
Households renting privately38.2%38.2% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 32.6% in 2011 Source
Council tax£1,837.78£1,837.78 (Band D, 2026/27, including the GLA precept of £510.51) Source
Landlord licensingHMOsWhat it means for you

Homes sold in Tower Hamlets in the last 12 months

TypeSalesAverage price
Flat or maisonette1,488£471,122
Terraced163£859,086
Other85£1,952,380
Semi-detached9£762,778
Detached1£1,334,826

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.

What to check at a Tower Hamlets check-in

  • High-rise towers at Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs: photograph integrated appliances, ventilation units, floor-to-ceiling glazing and balcony doors, and record fobs, keys and parking remotes.
  • Ex-council flats on estates: photograph the front door, entry phone, communal landing and bin chute or store, and note which keys open communal doors.
  • Converted warehouses in Wapping and Limehouse: photograph timber floors, exposed brick and large windows, where marks and condensation show.
  • Georgian houses in Spitalfields: photograph shutters, sash windows, staircases and original panelling close up.
  • Student and sharer lets near Mile End: photograph each bedroom lock and door, and the shared kitchen and bathroom, room by room.
  • Note any concierge, parcel room or gym access and its fobs, and photograph the meter readings, which are often in a cupboard on the landing.

Do it yourself in Tower Hamlets

  • No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
  • £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
  • The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
  • Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.

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Neighbourhoods

Areas of Tower Hamlets

WhitechapelSpitalfieldsStepneyWappingBethnal GreenBowMile EndLimehousePoplarCanary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs

Letting in Tower Hamlets

Licensing, safety certificates, deposits and the local figures, for landlords.

Renting in Tower Hamlets

Your check-in, getting your deposit back, and where to get help locally.

Free property report

EPC, sold prices, crime, flood risk and rental yield for any Tower Hamlets postcode.
Questions

Inventories in Tower Hamlets: questions

How much does an inventory clerk cost in Tower Hamlets?

Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.

What is the average rent in Tower Hamlets?

£2,462 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 3.8% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Tower Hamlets postcode.

Do landlords need a licence in Tower Hamlets?

Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme since the Weavers, Whitechapel and Spitalfields & Banglatown scheme ended on 30 September 2026; existing licences last until they expire, and the council says it is considering options for a new scheme. Additional HMO licensing: Additional licensing covers the whole borough for smaller HMOs, from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2029. Fees: Additional HMO licence £1,323 online from 1 April 2026 (or Part A £618 and Part B £787.50 if split); mandatory HMO licence £977 plus £68.50 per habitable room online. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.

Can I do my own check-in inventory in Tower Hamlets?

Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.

Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?

Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.

Nearby

Neighbouring boroughs

City of LondonHackneyNewhamSouthwarkGreenwichLewishamAll areas

Ready when you have the keys

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