DIY InventoryRenting in Wandsworth: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Wandsworth can get help.
Homes to rent in Wandsworth
Wandsworth has one of the largest private rented sectors in London (36.3% of households in 2021), popular with young professionals sharing Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Clapham Junction, Balham, Tooting and Earlsfield. Many terraces and mansion blocks are split into flats. Nine Elms and the Battersea Power Station area have added thousands of new high-rise flats, while Roehampton’s Alton Estate and other post-war estates are under regeneration. The council’s Band D charge is one of the lowest in the country.
Average rent: £2,632 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 4.2% 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 Wandsworth homes
- Sharer lets in Victorian terraces: photograph each bedroom, its door lock and furniture, and the shared kitchen, bathroom and garden.
- Mansion block flats in Battersea, Balham and Putney: photograph the communal entrance, lift, stairs and any porter arrangements, and record every key.
- New towers at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station: photograph integrated appliances, ventilation units, glazing and balcony doors, and record fobs and parking remotes.
- Sash and bay windows: photograph cords, catches, locks and any condensation or rot.
- Riverside flats in Wandsworth Town and Putney: photograph balconies and any signs of damp, and note bike store and parking access.
- Converted flats often share meters or have them in a communal cupboard: photograph each meter with its serial number and reading.
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
Wandsworth Council’s private sector housing service can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; tenants can contact it through the council’s housing pages. Wandsworth Council: private renting.
Renting in Wandsworth: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Wandsworth?
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 Wandsworth get help?
Wandsworth Council’s private sector housing service can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; tenants can contact it through the council’s housing pages.
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.