DIY InventoryLetting a property in Chelmsford: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Chelmsford.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Chelmsford
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council says it has no additional or selective licensing schemes.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
- Fees: £900 for a five-year HMO licence for up to five units, plus £55 for each extra unit
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Chelmsford City Council.
Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford homes
- Apartment blocks near the station and river: record fob and key counts, parking permits, bike and bin store access and the post box.
- Victorian terraces in Moulsham: photograph sash or replacement windows, chimney breasts, rear extensions and any damp.
- New-build homes at Beaulieu and Channels: note snagging marks, sealant around baths and showers, and new garden fences and turf.
- Shared houses near Anglia Ruskin University: photograph each bedroom's lock, the fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen separately.
- Homes near the Rivers Chelmer and Can: photograph ground floors and gardens for signs of damp or past flooding.
Homes sold in Chelmsford in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 495 | £437,917 |
| Detached | 493 | £663,792 |
| Terraced | 406 | £366,476 |
| Flat or maisonette | 379 | £212,689 |
| Other | 33 | £1,928,424 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Chelmsford: questions
Is there selective licensing in Chelmsford?
No selective licensing scheme: the council says it has no additional or selective licensing schemes. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Chelmsford?
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 Chelmsford?
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.
Nearby areas
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