DIY InventoryRenting in Worthing: check-in and getting your deposit back
What to check when you move in, how to protect your deposit, and where renters in Worthing can get help.
Homes to rent in Worthing
Worthing is a seaside town where private renting is above the South East average, much of it in Regency, Victorian and Edwardian houses split into flats in the town centre, Heene and Central wards. Modern apartment blocks line parts of the seafront. Further out, Goring, Durrington and Findon Valley are mainly interwar and post-war bungalows and semis, with many older owner-occupiers. The council has looked at selective licensing for the central wards where private lets are concentrated.
Average rent: £1,311 a month (ONS, May 2026), up 2.1% 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 Worthing homes
- Victorian and Regency houses split into flats in the centre and Heene: photograph communal halls, fire doors and meters, and count keys and fobs.
- Seafront flats: photograph window frames, balconies and metal fittings for salt and wind damage, and note any condensation or mould.
- Basement and ground-floor flats in converted houses: check for damp, ventilation and the condition of lightwells.
- Bungalows in Goring and Findon Valley: photograph gardens, garages, conservatories and any mobility adaptations.
- Flats over shops on Montague Street and Chapel Road: note separate entrances, rear access and bin storage.
- Homes on the shingle coast: check airbricks and gardens for flood or storm damage.
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
Adur & Worthing Councils' private sector housing team investigates disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs. Worthing Borough Council (Adur & Worthing Councils): private renting.
Renting in Worthing: questions
What should I check when I move into a rented home in Worthing?
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 Worthing get help?
Adur & Worthing Councils' private sector housing team investigates disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses 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.