DIY InventoryLetting a property in Ipswich: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Ipswich.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Ipswich
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only national mandatory licensing applies, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, including some flats above or below shops. An Article 4 direction since 1 June 2024 means converting a home to a small HMO in parts of the town needs planning permission. The council reported 225 licensed HMOs in January 2026.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Ipswich Borough Council.
Ipswich 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 Ipswich 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 Ipswich homes
- Waterfront flats: note fob and key counts, parking spaces, lifts and bin stores, and look for condensation around large windows.
- Victorian terraces in Westgate, California and Stoke: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph yards and rear access.
- Shared homes and flats above shops: photograph each room's lock and furniture, fire doors and alarms, and the separate entrance and stairs.
- Homes near the Orwell and the Gipping: look for signs of past flooding or damp in ground-floor rooms.
- Post-war estate houses in Chantry and Gainsborough: record the boiler, windows and doors, and the state of gardens and fencing.
Homes sold in Ipswich in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 516 | £264,204 |
| Terraced | 402 | £215,022 |
| Flat or maisonette | 215 | £125,049 |
| Detached | 149 | £408,967 |
| Other | 46 | £848,028 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Ipswich: questions
Is there selective licensing in Ipswich?
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 Ipswich?
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 Ipswich?
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.