DIY InventoryLetting a property in Cheltenham: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Cheltenham.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Cheltenham
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: none is listed on the council’s private housing pages.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme is listed: the council’s HMO page describes national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households). An Article 4 direction in St Paul’s means converting a house to an HMO there needs planning permission.
- Fees: £400 (part 1) plus £570 (part 2) for a standard HMO licence, with extra charges for larger HMOs
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Cheltenham Borough Council.
Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham homes
- Regency flats in Montpellier and Pittville: photograph sash windows and shutters, ornate ceilings, cornices and any cracks.
- Listed buildings: record original features such as fireplaces and doors carefully, as changes may need consent.
- Basement and lower-ground flats in the Regency terraces: check for damp, condensation and working extractor fans.
- Shared houses near the University of Gloucestershire campuses: photograph each bedroom's lock, the fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen.
- Communal hallways in converted villas: note shared meters, door entry systems, bins and the number of keys and fobs handed over.
Homes sold in Cheltenham in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 411 | £364,229 |
| Semi-detached | 403 | £415,325 |
| Flat or maisonette | 358 | £245,484 |
| Detached | 208 | £746,643 |
| Other | 49 | £817,962 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Cheltenham: questions
Is there selective licensing in Cheltenham?
No selective licensing scheme: none is listed on the council’s private housing pages. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham?
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.