DIY InventoryLetting a property in Isles of Scilly: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Isles of Scilly.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Isles of Scilly
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: national mandatory licensing applies, for homes let to five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities, which on Scilly often includes staff accommodation. The council keeps a public register of licensed HMOs.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Council of the Isles of Scilly.
Council of the Isles of Scilly: 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 Isles of Scilly 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 Isles of Scilly homes
- Granite cottages exposed to Atlantic weather: look for damp on thick walls, salt corrosion on window frames and door furniture, and storm damage to roofs.
- Shared staff accommodation: photograph each room's lock and furniture, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen, and note the HMO licence if there is one.
- Homes off the mains gas network: photograph the heating system, oil or LPG tank and gauge, and any private water supply or septic tank.
- Furnished seasonal lets: list and photograph every item of furniture and kitchen equipment, as replacements are hard to get on the islands.
- Low-lying homes in Hugh Town: look for signs of past flooding from storm surges in ground-floor rooms.
Homes sold in Isles of Scilly in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 8 | £277,500 |
| Terraced | 4 | £457,875 |
| Detached | 2 | £607,500 |
| Semi-detached | 1 | £555,000 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Isles of Scilly: questions
Is there selective licensing in Isles of Scilly?
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 Isles of Scilly?
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 Isles of Scilly?
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Do your Isles of Scilly check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
Start free