DIY InventoryLetting a property in Forest of Dean: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Forest of Dean.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Forest of Dean
- 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: About £1,333 for a new HMO licence (£241 on application plus £1,092), £1,230 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: Forest of Dean District Council.
Forest of Dean 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 Forest of Dean 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 Forest of Dean homes
- Stone cottages from the mining era: check solid walls for damp, and photograph chimneys, wood burners and any sweep certificate.
- Homes off the gas grid: record oil tank levels and condition, LPG bottles or tanks, and storage heaters, and photograph the meters.
- Rural properties: note septic tanks or treatment plants, private water supplies and the condition of long drives and gates.
- Riverside homes near the Severn and Wye: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms and outbuildings.
- Woodland and forest-edge homes: photograph gutters and roofs for leaf build-up and any overhanging trees.
- Newer estate houses around Lydney: photograph gardens, fences and parking areas, and note any snagging in recent builds.
Homes sold in Forest of Dean in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 320 | £408,920 |
| Semi-detached | 264 | £248,753 |
| Terraced | 135 | £217,122 |
| Other | 43 | £502,588 |
| Flat or maisonette | 35 | £117,157 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Forest of Dean: questions
Is there selective licensing in Forest of Dean?
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 Forest of Dean?
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 Forest of Dean?
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.
Nearby areas
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Do your Forest of Dean check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
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