DIY InventoryLetting a property in Dover: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Dover.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Dover
- 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 sharing facilities.
- Fees: £1,298 for a new HMO licence (up to eight habitable rooms) and £995 to renew, as listed on the council site in October 2026
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Dover District Council.
Dover District 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 Dover 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 Dover homes
- Victorian houses split into flats in Dover: photograph fire doors, alarms and the shared hallway, and record the keys for each door.
- Seafront homes in Deal and Walmer: photograph window frames, render and metal fittings for salt and wind damage.
- Steep hillside streets in Dover: photograph steps, retaining walls, gutters and any damp on walls built into the slope.
- Listed homes in Sandwich: photograph original windows, doors, beams and floors as they are, since repairs need consent.
- Former coalfield homes in Aylesham and nearby villages: photograph walls for cracking and the condition of gardens and fences.
Homes sold in Dover in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 494 | £256,595 |
| Semi-detached | 338 | £314,473 |
| Detached | 262 | £512,455 |
| Flat or maisonette | 169 | £176,645 |
| Other | 45 | £544,081 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Dover: questions
Is there selective licensing in Dover?
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 Dover?
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 Dover?
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.