DIY InventoryLetting a property in Medway: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Medway.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Medway
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing has been approved for privately rented homes in seven wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, and Watling. The council's designation notice gave a start of 27 October 2026; a later landlord update gives 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2032, so check the council's page for the date.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing has been approved for smaller HMOs (three or four people from two or more households) in six wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton and Watling, starting on the same date. Larger HMOs need the national mandatory licence everywhere.
- Fees: Proposed at £840 for a selective licence and £1,600 for an additional HMO licence, with discounts for accredited landlords (consultation, 2026)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Medway Council.
Medway 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 Medway 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 Medway homes
- Victorian terraces in Gillingham and Chatham: photograph the rear yard, gutters, and any damp or mould in back kitchens and bathrooms.
- Shared houses near the Medway campus: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the posted licence.
- Hillside homes in Chatham: record steps, retaining walls and paths, and any cracks in external walls.
- Riverside and dockyard apartments: note fob, key and parking counts, and photograph balconies and window seals.
- Homes in the new licensing wards: photograph the licence and check it shows the right address and expiry date.
Homes sold in Medway in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,197 | £273,143 |
| Semi-detached | 768 | £355,748 |
| Detached | 343 | £509,488 |
| Flat or maisonette | 275 | £176,873 |
| Other | 66 | £600,451 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Medway: questions
Is there selective licensing in Medway?
Selective licensing has been approved for privately rented homes in seven wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, and Watling. The council's designation notice gave a start of 27 October 2026; a later landlord update gives 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2032, so check the council's page for the date. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Medway?
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 Medway?
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.