DIY InventoryRenting in West Berkshire: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in West Berkshire can get help.
Homes to rent in West Berkshire
West Berkshire is mostly rural, with Newbury and Thatcham holding much of the population and suburbs such as Tilehurst and Calcot on Reading's edge. Newbury has seen many new flats and town houses, including large town centre schemes. The North Wessex Downs villages have brick and flint cottages and farm conversions, and Lambourn has housing tied to the racing industry. HMOs are fairly few, and the council runs only mandatory HMO licensing.
Average rent: £1,338 a month (ONS, August 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 West Berkshire homes
- Brick and flint cottages in the Downs villages: photograph timber windows, damp at the base of walls and any oil tank or septic tank.
- Riverside homes in Pangbourne and along the Kennet: note flood defences, airbricks and any watermarks or past flood damage.
- Modern flats in Newbury town centre: record fobs, parking permits, bike store access and the condition of shared areas.
- New-build estates in Thatcham and Newbury: check sealant, flooring and any snagging marks, and who maintains the shared land.
- Racing-yard flats and cottages in Lambourn: photograph shared yards, stores and any furniture supplied with the job.
- Large gardens in village homes: photograph lawns, hedges, fences and outbuildings.
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
West Berkshire's private housing work is done by the Public Protection Partnership, which looks into hazards and disrepair in private rented homes and HMOs. West Berkshire Council: private renting.
Renting in West Berkshire: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in West Berkshire?
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 West Berkshire get help?
West Berkshire's private housing work is done by the Public Protection Partnership, which looks into hazards and disrepair in private rented homes and HMOs.
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 West Berkshire home’s condition today, on your phone.
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