DIY InventoryLetting a property in Dartford: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Dartford.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Dartford
- 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. Separately, Article 4 directions mean turning a house into a small HMO may need planning permission.
- Fees: £905 for a five-year HMO licence and £695 to renew (2025/26)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Dartford Borough Council.
Dartford Borough 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 Dartford 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 Dartford homes
- New-build homes at Ebbsfleet Valley and Greenhithe: record any snagging still open, allocated parking spaces and the estate management company's rules.
- Riverside and town-centre blocks of flats: note fob, key and post-box key counts and photograph communal entrances, lifts and bin stores.
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Dartford, Swanscombe and Stone: check for damp in rear extensions and under bay windows, and photograph original sash or replacement windows.
- Flats over shops on Dartford high street: photograph the separate entrance, stairs, smoke alarms and any noise or smell from the business below.
- Former council houses on estates such as Temple Hill: note the condition of fences, gates and outbuildings, and any later alterations or extensions.
- Bungalows and chalet homes in Joydens Wood: photograph gutters, roofs and paths under the trees, and any moss or leaf build-up.
Homes sold in Dartford in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 385 | £360,057 |
| Semi-detached | 309 | £445,604 |
| Flat or maisonette | 277 | £215,863 |
| Detached | 114 | £652,137 |
| Other | 21 | £853,600 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Dartford: questions
Is there selective licensing in Dartford?
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 Dartford?
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 Dartford?
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.