DIY InventoryLetting a property in Bedford: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Bedford.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Bedford
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough: smaller privately rented HMOs (three or more people from more than one household sharing facilities) need a licence. The designation was made on 25 January 2023, runs from 21 May 2023 and ends on 20 May 2028. Larger HMOs need a mandatory licence as everywhere in England.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Bedford Borough Council.
Bedford 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 Bedford 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 Bedford homes
- Victorian terraces in Queens Park and Castle: photograph sash or replacement windows, chimney breasts and any damp at the base of walls or in cellars.
- Converted flats in large town houses: record the communal hallway, shared meters, door entry system and how many keys and fobs are handed over.
- Shared houses (HMOs need a licence across the borough): photograph each bedroom's door lock, the fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen separately.
- New-build homes in Wixams and Great Denham: note snagging marks, sealant around baths and showers, and the condition of turf and fences in new gardens.
- Riverside flats near the Embankment: check for condensation, extractor fans working and any signs of damp in ground-floor units.
- Stone cottages in the northern villages: photograph uneven floors, beams, fireplaces and any oil tank or septic tank where there is no mains gas or drainage.
Homes sold in Bedford in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 519 | £351,784 |
| Detached | 458 | £547,129 |
| Terraced | 406 | £300,999 |
| Flat or maisonette | 224 | £188,579 |
| Other | 48 | £733,443 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Bedford: questions
Is there selective licensing in Bedford?
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 Bedford?
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 Bedford?
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.