DIY InventoryLetting a property in Eastbourne: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Eastbourne.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Eastbourne
- 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 amenities.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Eastbourne Borough Council.
Eastbourne 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 Eastbourne 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 Eastbourne homes
- Flats in converted Victorian villas: photograph sash windows, the communal hall and stairs, fire doors and smoke alarms, and note key and fob counts.
- Seafront flats: photograph window frames, balcony rails and outside metalwork for salt corrosion, and any damp on outside walls.
- Purpose-built blocks: photograph the lift, bin store and entry system, and note fob and key counts and any service charge rules given to the tenant.
- Sovereign Harbour homes: photograph balconies, parking spaces and gate fobs, and note marina or estate rules given to the tenant.
- Flats over shops in the town centre: photograph the separate entrance, stairs and fire doors, and note the key count for each door.
Homes sold in Eastbourne in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 407 | £208,500 |
| Terraced | 323 | £285,820 |
| Semi-detached | 184 | £331,796 |
| Detached | 167 | £472,606 |
| Other | 28 | £570,240 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Eastbourne: questions
Is there selective licensing in Eastbourne?
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 Eastbourne?
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 Eastbourne?
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.