DIY InventoryLetting a property in Hounslow: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Hounslow.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Hounslow
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme is in force in Hounslow; ordinary single-household lets do not need a council licence.
- Additional HMO licensing: A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme came into force on 11 December 2025 and runs until 10 December 2030. It covers HMOs let to three or more people from two or more households, and some converted (section 257) blocks under single ownership. It replaced an older scheme that covered only five wards.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Hounslow Council.
Hounslow 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 Hounslow 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 Hounslow homes
- Loft conversions and rear extensions on 1930s semis: photograph ceilings, skylights and the joins between old and new walls for cracks or damp.
- Shared houses: photograph each bedroom door, its lock and the number of keys, and record the condition of the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Double glazing near the Heathrow flight paths: check every window opens, locks and seals, and photograph any misted or cracked units.
- New-build flats in Brentford and the town centre: note fobs, parking permits and bin store access, and photograph the meter cupboard and any communal heating unit.
- Older Chiswick conversions: photograph sash windows, cords and locks, and any damp at the base of walls or under bay windows.
- Front and back gardens: photograph fences, gates, sheds and the lawn, since gardens are common in this borough's houses.
Homes sold in Hounslow in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 677 | £378,752 |
| Terraced | 435 | £659,473 |
| Semi-detached | 364 | £718,899 |
| Other | 42 | £4,394,673 |
| Detached | 41 | £925,350 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Hounslow: questions
Is there selective licensing in Hounslow?
No selective licensing scheme is in force in Hounslow; ordinary single-household lets do not need a council licence. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Hounslow?
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 Hounslow?
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.
Neighbouring boroughs
EalingHillingdonHammersmith and FulhamRichmond upon ThamesAll areas