DIY InventoryLetting a property in Bristol: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Bristol.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Bristol
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards from 6 August 2024 (to August 2029), and in Bedminster and Brislington West from 6 April 2022 (to April 2027).
- Additional HMO licensing: City-wide additional HMO licensing from 6 August 2024 (to August 2029), covering most HMOs not under mandatory licensing.
- Fees: £1,861 for a first additional HMO licence and £912 for a selective licence (council fee page)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Bristol City Council.
Bristol City 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 Bristol 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 Bristol homes
- Georgian conversions in Clifton and Hotwells: photograph sash windows, high ceilings and cornices for cracks, and any damp on the steep hillside walls.
- Student and shared houses in Redland, Cotham and Bishopston: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen.
- Victorian terraces in Bedminster, Southville and Easton: photograph rear yards, outside drains and any damp in the back addition kitchen.
- Apartment blocks at Harbourside and Temple Quarter: photograph the entry system and parking space, and record fobs, post box and bike store keys.
- Basement and lower-ground flats: photograph walls near floor level and window wells for damp and mould.
- Flats above shops on main roads such as Gloucester Road: photograph the separate street door, stairs and meter cupboards.
Homes sold in Bristol in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,979 | £409,585 |
| Flat or maisonette | 1,318 | £285,350 |
| Semi-detached | 926 | £441,801 |
| Detached | 223 | £660,741 |
| Other | 168 | £1,030,910 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Bristol: questions
Is there selective licensing in Bristol?
Selective licensing in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards from 6 August 2024 (to August 2029), and in Bedminster and Brislington West from 6 April 2022 (to April 2027). Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Bristol?
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 Bristol?
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.