DIY Inventory← All areas · Cheshire West and Chester
For landlordsLetting a property in Cheshire West and Chester: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Cheshire West and Chester.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Cheshire West and Chester
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme is listed on the council's website.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing: only mandatory licensing of HMOs with five or more unrelated people sharing. Accredited landlords get 10% off the HMO licence fee.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Cheshire West and Chester 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 Cheshire West and Chester 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 Cheshire West and Chester homes
- Student HMOs near the University of Chester: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture, the fire doors and alarms, and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Georgian and Victorian conversions in central Chester: check sash windows, shared hallway condition and any intercom or entry fob counts.
- Riverside and canal-side flats: note any damp or condensation, balcony condition and allocated parking or bike store fobs.
- Former council houses in Ellesmere Port and Winsford: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and the boiler and consumer unit.
- Rural sandstone cottages: record oil tank levels, septic tank or private water supply, wood burners and any damp on solid walls.
- Northwich has a history of salt-related subsidence: photograph any cracks in walls and around door and window frames.
Homes sold in Cheshire West and Chester in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 1,348 | £276,927 |
| Detached | 1,074 | £447,131 |
| Terraced | 941 | £215,647 |
| Flat or maisonette | 353 | £165,795 |
| Other | 120 | £784,317 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Cheshire West and Chester: questions
Is there selective licensing in Cheshire West and Chester?
No selective licensing scheme is listed on the council's website. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Cheshire West and Chester?
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 Cheshire West and Chester?
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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Do your Cheshire West and Chester check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
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