DIY InventoryRenting in Tunbridge Wells: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Tunbridge Wells can get help.
Homes to rent in Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells is a spa town with a large stock of Regency and Victorian villas and terraces, many converted into flats, and a private renting share matching the South East average. Many tenants commute to London from Tunbridge Wells and Paddock Wood stations. The rural east of the borough has Wealden weatherboarded and timber-framed houses, oast houses and listed cottages. Paddock Wood is growing with large new-build estates.
Average rent: £1,543 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 5.0% 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 Tunbridge Wells homes
- Regency and Victorian flat conversions in the town centre: note shared hallways, fire doors, meter cupboards and keys for each door.
- Period homes: photograph sash windows, cornicing, fireplaces and any damp in basements or lower ground floors.
- Weatherboarded and timber-framed houses in Cranbrook and Hawkhurst: check the boarding, beams and any rot or insect damage.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level and boiler service label.
- Homes near the Medway and its streams in Paddock Wood: 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 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its 'Advice for tenants' page. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council: private renting.
Renting in Tunbridge Wells: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Tunbridge Wells?
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 Tunbridge Wells get help?
Private tenants can contact Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its 'Advice for tenants' page.
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 Tunbridge Wells home’s condition today, on your phone.
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