Renting in Westminster: check-in and getting your deposit back

Homes to rent in Westminster

Westminster had the second-highest share of private renting in England in 2021 (43.3% of households, after the City of London), and its social rented sector grew too (28.3%). Most homes are flats: Georgian and Victorian terraces split into flats, red-brick mansion blocks, and post-war estates such as Churchill Gardens and Lisson Green. Lets range from studios above shops in Soho to high-value furnished flats in Mayfair and Belgravia, and many properties are leasehold with managing agents and porters.

Average rent: £3,196 a month (ONS, August 2026), down 0.6% on a year earlier. Source

On moving-in day

1. Before unpacking, photograph every room: a wide shot, then each item, with the date and time on every photo.
2. Photograph the meters (gas, electricity, water) and write down the readings.
3. Count the keys and fobs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Note anything worn, marked or not working, and send it to the landlord or agent within a few days.

Things to look at in Westminster homes

• Mansion blocks in Marylebone, Maida Vale and St John’s Wood: photograph the communal entrance, lift, porterage and post arrangements, and record every key and fob.
• Stucco terraces in Pimlico and Bayswater: photograph sash windows, shutters, cornicing and any damp in basement flats.
• Furnished high-value lets: photograph each item of furniture, soft furnishings, artwork and appliance, with close-ups of any marks.
• Flats above shops in Soho and Covent Garden: photograph the street door, stairs and any rear fire escape, and note who holds the keys to the communal door.
• Lower-ground and basement flats: photograph lightwells, drains and walls for damp, and any window bars or security grilles.
• Note the building’s rules on moving in, parking and bike storage, and photograph the meter readings, which are often in a communal cupboard.

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

Westminster City Council’s private sector housing and environmental health service can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; tenants can contact it through the council’s housing pages. Westminster City Council: private renting.

Do your check-in free Moving-in checklist