DIY InventoryLetting a property in Babergh: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Babergh.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Babergh
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). The councils’ 2024 housing strategy says they plan to review their approach to HMO licensing.
- Fees: The council’s HMO page gives the licence fee as £578.55 (an older version says £551)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Babergh District Council.
Babergh District 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 Babergh 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 Babergh homes
- Timber-framed and listed cottages: photograph exposed beams, lime plaster walls and any cracks, and do not record repairs that would need listed building consent as tenant faults.
- Thatched roofs in villages: photograph the visible thatch, the ridge and any signs of birds or wear, and note fire safety equipment.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph oil tanks and the gauge level, and the access cover of any septic tank or treatment plant.
- Woodburners and open fires common in cottages: photograph the stove glass, the hearth and the date on the last sweep certificate.
- Older solid-walled homes: photograph window reveals, the bottom of walls and behind furniture for damp and mould.
Homes sold in Babergh in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 375 | £494,021 |
| Semi-detached | 288 | £312,956 |
| Terraced | 248 | £263,810 |
| Other | 53 | £490,917 |
| Flat or maisonette | 48 | £184,293 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Babergh: questions
Is there selective licensing in Babergh?
No selective licensing scheme. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Babergh?
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 Babergh?
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.