DIY InventoryLetting a property in Lincoln: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Lincoln.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Lincoln
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only the national mandatory licence for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. An Article 4 direction means new small HMOs across the city need planning permission.
- Fees: £1,470 for a new HMO licence (up to five bedrooms) or £1,270 for a renewal, paid 60% on application and 40% on grant
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: City of Lincoln Council.
City of Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln homes
- Student lets in the West End and Monks Road terraces: photograph each bedroom door lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and shared kitchen appliances.
- Period homes uphill near the cathedral: record sash windows, steep stairs, fireplaces and any cracks in old plaster.
- Victorian terraces with rear yards: photograph the yard, outbuildings, gutters and any damp in back kitchens and bathrooms.
- Flats near the Brayford and the River Witham: note any damp or condensation, and record fob, key and parking permit counts.
- HMOs: photograph the posted licence, fire blanket and alarm panel in shared areas.
Homes sold in Lincoln in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 427 | £165,707 |
| Semi-detached | 297 | £218,818 |
| Detached | 210 | £305,612 |
| Flat or maisonette | 86 | £129,763 |
| Other | 24 | £826,663 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Lincoln: questions
Is there selective licensing in Lincoln?
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 Lincoln?
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 Lincoln?
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.