DIY InventoryLetting a property in Barnet: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Barnet.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Barnet
- Selective licensing: None in force: the council says it has no selective licensing scheme running. A consultation on selective licensing in ten wards (including Burnt Oak, Colindale North and South, Cricklewood, Golders Green, Hendon and West Hendon) ran from 15 June to 15 September 2026; no decision had been published at the time of checking.
- Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing, from 27 October 2022 to 27 October 2027.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Barnet Council.
Barnet 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 Barnet 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 Barnet homes
- In Edwardian and interwar houses converted into flats in Finchley and Golders Green, photograph the shared hallway, stairs and front door locks, and note which keys open communal doors.
- In Colindale and West Hendon new-build blocks, record fob, parking permit and post box key counts and photograph the heat interface unit or communal heating meter.
- Check bay windows and leaded or original windows in older semis: photograph catches, glazing and any condensation damage to sills.
- In Hampstead Garden Suburb houses, photograph original features such as doors, fireplaces and windows in detail, as alterations there are tightly controlled.
- Photograph gardens, sheds and boundary fences in suburban houses, and note who looks after the garden under the tenancy.
Homes sold in Barnet in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 1,000 | £399,217 |
| Semi-detached | 616 | £857,246 |
| Terraced | 443 | £651,353 |
| Detached | 188 | £1,773,249 |
| Other | 79 | £1,725,818 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Barnet: questions
Is there selective licensing in Barnet?
None in force: the council says it has no selective licensing scheme running. A consultation on selective licensing in ten wards (including Burnt Oak, Colindale North and South, Cricklewood, Golders Green, Hendon and West Hendon) ran from 15 June to 15 September 2026; no decision had been published at the time of checking. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Barnet?
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 Barnet?
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.