DIY InventoryLetting a property in Chichester: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Chichester.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Chichester
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Chichester District Council.
Chichester District 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 Chichester 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 Chichester homes
- Student lets near the University of Chichester: photograph each bedroom's lock, furniture and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Georgian and Victorian terraces in the city: check sash windows, cords and catches, and any damp in basements or on chimney breasts.
- Coastal homes in Selsey and the Witterings: look for salt corrosion on metal window frames, gates and outdoor lights, and sand or damp at doorsteps.
- Flint and stone cottages in the Downs villages: photograph solid walls for damp, low beams, wood burners and the oil tank level.
- Homes near the harbour and low-lying coast: note any signs of past flooding or high-water marks and the condition of drains.
- New-build estates at Tangmere and Southbourne: record any snagging still open, parking spaces and estate management arrangements.
Homes sold in Chichester in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 446 | £709,665 |
| Semi-detached | 297 | £429,455 |
| Terraced | 272 | £368,301 |
| Flat or maisonette | 184 | £225,351 |
| Other | 83 | £1,044,500 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Chichester: questions
Is there selective licensing in Chichester?
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 Chichester?
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 Chichester?
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.