DIY InventoryLetting a property in Luton: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Luton.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Luton
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in the town centre and Park Town areas from 1 June 2026, after a legal challenge by landlords failed. Check an address on the council's map.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough from 1 June 2026, for smaller HMOs of three or four people from two or more households; larger HMOs need the national mandatory licence.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Luton Council.
Luton 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 Luton 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 Luton homes
- Shared houses near the university and the airport: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke and heat alarms, and the HMO licence.
- Victorian terraces in High Town and Bury Park: photograph the rear yard, gutters, and any damp or mould in back kitchens and bathrooms.
- Flats over shops in the town centre: record the shared entrance, fire escape route and the number of keys and fobs.
- Homes under the airport flight path: note window seals and any secondary glazing, and test that windows open and lock.
- Post-war estates in Marsh Farm and Lewsey: photograph communal stairs, bin stores and any condensation in flats.
Homes sold in Luton in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 576 | £332,159 |
| Terraced | 414 | £274,303 |
| Flat or maisonette | 218 | £158,200 |
| Detached | 213 | £450,352 |
| Other | 33 | £668,391 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Luton: questions
Is there selective licensing in Luton?
Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in the town centre and Park Town areas from 1 June 2026, after a legal challenge by landlords failed. Check an address on the council's map. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Luton?
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 Luton?
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.