DIY InventoryLetting a property in Cornwall: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Cornwall.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Cornwall
- 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. The council consulted in 2026 on raising the mandatory HMO licence fees.
- Fees: About £1,481 for a new mandatory HMO licence and £1,101 to renew (2026), with higher fees proposed
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Cornwall Council.
Cornwall 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 Cornwall 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 Cornwall homes
- Granite and stone cottages: photograph solid walls and window reveals for damp and mould, and the condition of slate roofs visible from outside.
- Off-grid homes: record the oil tank or LPG gauge reading, the boiler, any septic tank or private water supply, and wood burner condition.
- Coastal properties: look for salt corrosion on window frames, door furniture, gates and outdoor lights, and wind damage to fences.
- Student lets in Falmouth and Penryn: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Former mining areas around Camborne and Redruth: note any cracks in walls so ground movement can be compared later.
- Homes switched from holiday let to long-term let: list furniture, linen and kitchen items carefully, as inventories often change.
Homes sold in Cornwall in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 2,143 | £453,575 |
| Terraced | 1,724 | £250,165 |
| Semi-detached | 1,376 | £282,095 |
| Flat or maisonette | 610 | £211,198 |
| Other | 336 | £513,052 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Cornwall: questions
Is there selective licensing in Cornwall?
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 Cornwall?
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 Cornwall?
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.