DIY InventoryLetting a property in Derby: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Derby.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Derby
- 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. Planning permission is needed to turn homes into HMOs in parts of the city (Article 4 direction).
- Fees: £1,368 for a new HMO licence of up to six bedrooms, £1,121 to renew (2026/27)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Derby City Council.
Derby City 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 Derby 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 Derby homes
- Victorian terraces in Normanton and Pear Tree: photograph cellars, back yards and any damp on ground-floor walls.
- Student and shared houses near the university: photograph each bedroom's lock, furniture and the shared kitchen appliances, and count every key.
- Converted mill and office flats in the city centre: photograph ventilation, window restrictors and the communal entry system.
- Homes near the River Derwent: note any flood boards or air-brick covers and photograph them in place.
- Larger villas split into flats in the Arboretum area: photograph fire doors, door closers and alarms in shared hallways.
Homes sold in Derby in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 927 | £221,031 |
| Terraced | 715 | £172,011 |
| Detached | 596 | £345,320 |
| Flat or maisonette | 154 | £117,098 |
| Other | 66 | £729,866 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Derby: questions
Is there selective licensing in Derby?
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 Derby?
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 Derby?
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.