Use this guide on the day you move into a rented home, ideally before your furniture arrives. Have the landlord's inventory if one was provided, your phone with plenty of storage, a notepad and a torch.
Step by step
Get the landlord's inventory
Ask for the inventory or check-in report before or on moving day. Read it room by room and do not sign it until you have checked it against what you see. If there is no inventory, create your own using the steps below.
Photograph every room systematically
Start at the door of each room and take wide shots of every wall, the floor and the ceiling. Then take close-ups of any marks, stains, chips, scratches or damage, with something for scale. Photograph inside appliances, cupboards and the oven too.
Test fittings and appliances
Check that lights, sockets you can see, taps, the shower, toilet flush, heating, windows and door locks work. Test smoke alarms and check there is a carbon monoxide alarm where required. Note anything faulty and report it as a repair.
Record meter readings and keys
Photograph the gas, electricity and water meters and note the readings. Count and list every key and fob you received. Keep these with your inventory.
Add your comments and return a copy
Write your comments on the inventory or in a separate email listing anything missing, damaged or different. Send it to the landlord or agent within the time they asked for, or within a week if no time was set, and ask them to confirm receipt.
Check your deposit is protected
In England and Wales, deposits for most private tenancies must be placed in a government-approved deposit protection scheme, and you should receive the scheme details. Check the current rules and time limits on GOV.UK. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes and rules.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Inventory read before signing
- Wide and close-up photos of every room
- Appliances and fittings tested
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms checked
- Meter readings photographed
- Keys and fobs listed
- Comments emailed with confirmation requested
- Deposit scheme details received
Practical tips
- Store the photos in a dated online folder so they are safe even if you lose your phone.
- Keep the inventory and photos until your deposit has been returned in full.
- Take the same photos again on move-out day from the same positions for easy comparison.
Common problems
The agent wants me to sign the inventory on the spot.
Ask politely for time to check it properly, or sign only to confirm you received it and add a note that your comments will follow. Then send your written comments and photos promptly.
I found damage a week after moving in that is not on the inventory.
Photograph it straight away and email the landlord or agent explaining when you found it. Ask them to add it to the inventory. The sooner you report it, the more credible your record is.
I have not been told where my deposit is protected.
Ask the landlord or agent in writing for the scheme name and deposit reference. You can also check with the approved schemes directly. If it has not been protected, get advice from Citizens Advice or Shelter.