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For tenantsRenting in Vale of White Horse: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Vale of White Horse can get help.
Homes to rent in Vale of White Horse
The Vale of White Horse runs from the edge of Oxford to the Berkshire Downs, with Abingdon, Wantage and Faringdon as its towns. Private renting is below the South East average, with demand from Oxford, the Harwell and Culham science sites and Milton Park. Large new-build estates have been added at Grove, Wantage, Great Western Park and Faringdon, while the villages have stone and thatched cottages. Prices are well above the national average.
Average rent: £1,336 a month (ONS, June 2026), about the same as 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 Vale of White Horse homes
- New-build homes at Grove, Kingsgrove and Great Western Park: note snagging marks, fences, turf and management company areas.
- Stone and thatched cottages in the villages: photograph the thatch, beams, low doorways and any damp in old walls.
- Homes near the Thames and Ock in Abingdon: check ground floors and walls for damp or past flood marks.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level and boiler service label.
- Shared houses let to Oxford and Harwell staff in Botley and Abingdon: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors 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 Vale of White Horse District Council's housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions. Vale of White Horse District Council: private renting.
Renting in Vale of White Horse: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Vale of White Horse?
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 Vale of White Horse get help?
Private tenants can contact Vale of White Horse District Council's 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 Vale of White Horse home’s condition today, on your phone.
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