DIY InventoryLetting a property in Cumberland: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Cumberland.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Cumberland
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council says it does not operate selective licensing for private rented homes.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only mandatory licensing of larger HMOs (five or more people forming two or more households) applies.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Cumberland Council.
Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland homes
- Solid stone and brick terraces on the west coast: photograph any damp patches, mould in corners and condensation round windows, room by room.
- Homes near the rivers in Carlisle, Cockermouth and Keswick: note any flood boards, air-brick covers or sump pumps and photograph that they are present and working.
- Rural cottages off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank, its gauge reading and the boiler, or any solid-fuel stove and its hearth.
- Coastal homes in Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven: photograph external paint, window frames and metal fittings for salt and wind damage.
- Contractor lets near Sellafield: count and photograph every key and fob and the furniture in each bedroom, as these are often furnished rooms or whole-house lets.
Homes sold in Cumberland in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,194 | £137,323 |
| Semi-detached | 997 | £186,929 |
| Detached | 738 | £332,147 |
| Flat or maisonette | 186 | £122,159 |
| Other | 131 | £286,034 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Cumberland: questions
Is there selective licensing in Cumberland?
No selective licensing scheme: the council says it does not operate selective licensing for private rented homes. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Cumberland?
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 Cumberland?
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.