DIY InventoryLetting a property in Hartlepool: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Hartlepool.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Hartlepool
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force: earlier schemes in parts of the town (from 2009) have ended. The council's 2026/27 council tax leaflet says it is considering bringing in a new selective landlord licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme is listed: larger HMOs (five or more people from two or more households) need a national mandatory licence, with standard licence conditions published in 2025.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Hartlepool Borough Council.
Hartlepool 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 Hartlepool 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 Hartlepool homes
- Victorian terraces with back lanes in Stranton and Oxford Road: photograph the rear yard, gate, bins and outbuildings, and check for damp at the base of walls.
- Seafront and Headland homes: look for salt corrosion on window frames, door furniture and outside metalwork, and damp on exposed walls.
- Marina apartments: note fob and key counts, parking spaces, lifts and bin stores, and look for condensation around large windows.
- Post-war estate houses in Owton Manor and Rossmere: record the boiler, windows and external doors, and the state of gardens and fencing.
- Empty or long-vacant terraced homes being re-let: photograph meters, signs of past leaks and any security boarding removed.
Homes sold in Hartlepool in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 516 | £81,132 |
| Semi-detached | 318 | £151,926 |
| Detached | 231 | £302,178 |
| Flat or maisonette | 48 | £80,399 |
| Other | 36 | £376,213 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Hartlepool: questions
Is there selective licensing in Hartlepool?
No selective licensing scheme in force: earlier schemes in parts of the town (from 2009) have ended. The council's 2026/27 council tax leaflet says it is considering bringing in a new selective landlord licensing scheme. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Hartlepool?
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 Hartlepool?
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.