DIY InventoryLetting a property in Ashford: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Ashford.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Ashford
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: none is listed on the council’s housing or licensing pages.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; the council’s HMO page describes only national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households).
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Ashford Borough Council.
Ashford Borough Council: private renting and licensing
Safety certificates
- Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
- EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
- Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Ashford at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.
Deposits and the inventory
Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.
What to record in Ashford homes
- Weatherboarded and timber-framed cottages in Tenterden and the Weald villages: photograph external boarding, window frames and any rot or flaking paint.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph oil tanks, the gauge reading and any septic tank or treatment plant access cover.
- Apartment blocks near the international station: note fob, key and parking permit counts, and photograph the meter cupboard and bin store.
- New-build estates such as Singleton and Park Farm: photograph sealant around baths and showers, settlement cracks and the condition of gardens and fences.
- Old cottages with low beams and uneven floors: photograph beams, floorboards and door frames so later damage can be compared.
Homes sold in Ashford in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 417 | £573,863 |
| Terraced | 367 | £290,156 |
| Semi-detached | 363 | £347,144 |
| Flat or maisonette | 147 | £177,606 |
| Other | 52 | £714,852 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Ashford: questions
Is there selective licensing in Ashford?
No selective licensing scheme: none is listed on the council’s housing or licensing pages. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Ashford?
A Gas Safety certificate every 12 months (where there is gas), an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, and a valid EPC rated E or above, plus working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances.
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits, with the prescribed information given to the tenant in the same 30 days.
Do I need an inventory as a landlord in Ashford?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but without a signed check-in record it is very hard to claim anything from the deposit at the end. With DIY Inventory you can do it yourself for £30, or send your tenant a link to do it.