DIY InventoryLetting a property in Boston: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Boston.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Boston
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: the joint HMO Licensing Policy 2026–2029 says the council does not run one but may introduce one. National mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
- Fees: £1,046 for a five-year HMO licence, paid in two instalments
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Boston Borough Council.
Boston 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 Boston 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 Boston homes
- Older town houses near the centre let as shared houses: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and alarms, and the shared kitchen and bathroom.
- Flats over shops in the Market Place and Strait Bargate: note the separate entrance, the stairs and how many keys are handed over.
- Low-lying fenland homes: photograph any signs of damp, past flooding or tide marks, and note where the stopcock and electricity meter are.
- Farm and rural cottages: record any oil tank, septic tank or cesspit and the condition of outbuildings.
- Bungalows in the villages: photograph gardens, drives, garages and any adaptations such as grab rails.
Homes sold in Boston in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 325 | £270,273 |
| Semi-detached | 175 | £164,510 |
| Terraced | 131 | £129,796 |
| Other | 26 | £482,830 |
| Flat or maisonette | 25 | £100,978 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Boston: questions
Is there selective licensing in Boston?
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 Boston?
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 Boston?
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.