DIY InventoryLetting a property in County Durham: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in County Durham.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in County Durham
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing in 103 of the county's 324 small areas (LSOAs), covering about 42% of privately rented homes, from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. A new scheme from 1 April 2027 was consulted on (closed 12 August 2026).
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people from two or more households.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Durham County Council.
Durham County 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 County Durham 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 County Durham homes
- Colliery terraces in former mining villages: photograph back yards, outhouses, rear lanes and any damp in the back kitchen or on chimney breasts.
- Former mining areas: note any cracks in walls and around frames so ground movement can be compared at check-out.
- Student HMOs in Durham City: photograph each bedroom's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and every shared appliance separately.
- Stone cottages in Teesdale and Weardale: check solid walls for damp, record the oil tank level, wood burners and any private water supply.
- Coastal homes at Seaham: look for salt corrosion on metal frames, gates and outdoor fittings.
- Long-empty terraces brought back into use: record the condition of every room in detail, including windows, doors and the boiler.
Homes sold in County Durham in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 2,785 | £104,105 |
| Semi-detached | 1,827 | £152,931 |
| Detached | 1,113 | £291,458 |
| Flat or maisonette | 230 | £107,344 |
| Other | 186 | £418,063 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in County Durham: questions
Is there selective licensing in County Durham?
Selective licensing in 103 of the county's 324 small areas (LSOAs), covering about 42% of privately rented homes, from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. A new scheme from 1 April 2027 was consulted on (closed 12 August 2026). Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in County Durham?
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 County Durham?
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Do your County Durham check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
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