DIY InventoryLetting a property in Bolton: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Bolton.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Bolton
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force (an earlier scheme in Tonge Moor began in 2008 and ran for five years).
- Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing agreed by the Cabinet in August 2026 (covering smaller HMOs of three or four people and some converted buildings), expected to be fully running in early 2027; until then only national mandatory HMO licensing applies. An Article 4 direction since 2025 means small HMO conversions need planning permission.
- Fees: £1,211 per property for a five-year licence under the planned additional HMO scheme
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Bolton Council.
Bolton 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 Bolton 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 Bolton homes
- Victorian terraces in Deane, Daubhill and Great Lever: photograph damp at the base of walls, cellar heads and mould in back bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Back yards and ginnels behind terraced rows: record the yard gate, walls and where the bins are kept.
- Student lets near the University of Bolton: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and alarms, and the shared kitchen separately.
- Mill conversions and town-centre flats: note fob and key counts, the intercom and any parking space or bike store.
- New-build estates in Horwich and Westhoughton: record snagging marks, sealant and new gardens and fences.
- Stone cottages in the Turton moorland villages: photograph stoves, any oil or LPG supply and exposed walls and windows.
Homes sold in Bolton in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,069 | £157,783 |
| Semi-detached | 849 | £228,286 |
| Detached | 439 | £399,105 |
| Flat or maisonette | 227 | £122,734 |
| Other | 111 | £334,536 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Bolton: questions
Is there selective licensing in Bolton?
No selective licensing scheme in force (an earlier scheme in Tonge Moor began in 2008 and ran for five years). Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Bolton?
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 Bolton?
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.