DIY InventoryLetting a property in Lewes: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Lewes.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Lewes
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council runs only the national mandatory licensing for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, and says it could bring in additional or selective licensing in future.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Lewes District Council.
Lewes District 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 Lewes 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 Lewes homes
- Sash windows and old timber in the Lewes old town terraces: photograph cords, catches and any soft or rotten frames.
- Coastal homes in Seaford, Newhaven and Peacehaven: photograph salt-pitted metal, window seals and any damp on seaward walls.
- Chalk-built and flint cottages in the Downs villages: note damp patches, flaking lime render and condensation in cold rooms.
- Flats over shops in Lewes High Street and Newhaven: record the shared entrance, fire doors and how many keys and fobs are handed over.
- Rural homes off mains gas: photograph the oil tank, its gauge level and the boiler or storage heaters.
Homes sold in Lewes in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 363 | £557,727 |
| Semi-detached | 279 | £436,383 |
| Terraced | 244 | £391,363 |
| Flat or maisonette | 201 | £232,545 |
| Other | 39 | £1,289,328 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Lewes: questions
Is there selective licensing in Lewes?
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 Lewes?
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 Lewes?
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.