DIY InventoryLetting a property in Harlow: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Harlow.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Harlow
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. A town-wide Article 4 direction means converting a home to an HMO needs full planning permission, and some council-built homes carry covenants limiting them to single-family use.
- Fees: £850 (or £600 for accredited landlords) for a mandatory HMO licence of up to six bedrooms; licences last one year, renewal £350 (£225)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Harlow Council.
Harlow 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 Harlow 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 Harlow homes
- New town terraces and maisonettes: record flat roofs, communal walkways, stairwells, garages in separate blocks and the key or fob count for each.
- Office blocks converted into flats near the town centre: note the size of each room, ventilation, fire doors and alarms, and any condensation.
- Former council houses now privately let: photograph the boiler, windows, external doors and the condition of gardens and fencing.
- Shared homes: an HMO needs planning permission under the town-wide Article 4 direction, so check the licence and photograph each room's lock and furniture.
- Newer homes at Newhall and Church Langley: note snagging still outstanding, meter readings and parking allocations.
Homes sold in Harlow in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 386 | £336,934 |
| Flat or maisonette | 188 | £206,915 |
| Semi-detached | 101 | £432,779 |
| Detached | 92 | £555,855 |
| Other | 20 | £1,111,838 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Harlow: questions
Is there selective licensing in Harlow?
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 Harlow?
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 Harlow?
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.