DIY InventoryLetting a property in Lambeth: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Lambeth.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Lambeth
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers every ward except Vauxhall and Waterloo & South Bank (phase 1 in Knight’s Hill, Streatham Hill East, Streatham Common & Vale and Streatham St Leonards from 2 September 2024, phase 2 in the other wards from 1 September 2025), for privately rented homes that do not need an HMO licence.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough for HMOs let to three or more people forming two or more households (larger ones need a mandatory licence), from 9 December 2021 until 8 December 2026; no renewal had been announced at October 2026.
- Fees: A selective licence costs £923 for five years: £650 (Part A) on application and £273 (Part B) once the draft licence is issued, with £75 off Part B for accredited landlords and £50 off for an EPC rating of C or better.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Lambeth Council.
Lambeth 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 Lambeth 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 Lambeth homes
- Flats in converted Victorian houses: photograph shared hallways, fire doors, sash windows and any cracks above doorways.
- Mansion blocks in Streatham and Clapham: note communal door keys, post box keys and lift access, and photograph radiators and old timber floors.
- New-build towers in Vauxhall: record fobs, parking and concierge arrangements, and photograph balconies, extractor fans and the heating interface unit.
- Ex-council flats on estates: photograph the entry system, meter cupboard and any communal heating controls.
- Basement and garden flats: photograph walls at floor level, window wells and outside drains for damp or blockages.
Homes sold in Lambeth in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 1,694 | £486,536 |
| Terraced | 488 | £926,299 |
| Semi-detached | 134 | £1,156,996 |
| Other | 92 | £1,277,764 |
| Detached | 18 | £1,226,528 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Lambeth: questions
Is there selective licensing in Lambeth?
Selective licensing covers every ward except Vauxhall and Waterloo & South Bank (phase 1 in Knight’s Hill, Streatham Hill East, Streatham Common & Vale and Streatham St Leonards from 2 September 2024, phase 2 in the other wards from 1 September 2025), for privately rented homes that do not need an HMO licence. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Lambeth?
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 Lambeth?
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.