DIY InventoryLetting a property in Merton: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Merton.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Merton
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers four wards, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, for privately rented homes that are not HMOs (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years).
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers HMOs let to three or four people forming two or more households in seven wards: Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton and Pollards Hill (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years).
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Merton Council.
Merton 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 Merton 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 Merton homes
- Edwardian houses and conversions in Wimbledon: photograph sash and bay windows, original floors and fireplaces, and any cracks in ceilings.
- Inter-war semis in Morden and Mitcham: photograph the garden, garage, side gate and the condition of the original windows and doors.
- Ex-council homes on the St Helier and other estates: photograph outbuildings, fences and the condition of kitchens and bathrooms in detail.
- Wimbledon tennis fortnight lets: note any extra furniture or contents left for a short let and record their condition at the start.
- New-build flats near Wimbledon and Colliers Wood: record fobs and parking, and photograph balconies and the ventilation and heating controls.
Homes sold in Merton in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 615 | £716,727 |
| Flat or maisonette | 599 | £431,652 |
| Semi-detached | 150 | £972,136 |
| Other | 53 | £2,013,058 |
| Detached | 52 | £2,971,058 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Merton: questions
Is there selective licensing in Merton?
Selective licensing covers four wards, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, for privately rented homes that are not HMOs (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years). Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Merton?
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 Merton?
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.