DIY InventoryLetting a property in Dudley: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Dudley.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Dudley
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people. A borough-wide Article 4 direction since 15 September 2023 means turning a house into a small HMO needs planning permission.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Dudley Metropolitan 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 Dudley 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 Dudley homes
- Victorian terraces: photograph back yards, outhouses and any damp low on walls or in cellars.
- Areas with past mining or limestone workings: photograph any cracks in walls, ceilings and around door frames so later movement can be compared.
- Post-war estate homes: photograph fences, gates, sheds and garden condition, which are often disputed at check-out.
- Flats near Brierley Hill and Merry Hill: photograph the communal entrance, bin store and parking bay, and count fobs and keys.
- Canal-side homes: photograph gardens and boundaries near the water and any damp on low walls.
Homes sold in Dudley in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 1,116 | £243,331 |
| Terraced | 622 | £206,396 |
| Detached | 520 | £368,391 |
| Flat or maisonette | 228 | £123,119 |
| Other | 87 | £365,571 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Dudley: questions
Is there selective licensing in Dudley?
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 Dudley?
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 Dudley?
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.