DIY InventoryLetting a property in Norwich: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Norwich.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Norwich
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force. A 2026 review of the private rented sector found evidence that could support selective licensing in Nelson, Mile Cross, Town Close and Sewell wards; councillors were asked only to note it, and any scheme would need a consultation first.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing in force: only national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies. The same 2026 review suggested a possible citywide additional licensing scheme for three- and four-person HMOs.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Norwich City Council.
Norwich City 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 Norwich 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 Norwich homes
- Student lets in Earlham and the Golden Triangle: photograph each bedroom door lock, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Victorian terraces in the Golden Triangle: record sash windows, damp in rear extensions and the state of small back gardens.
- Listed and older buildings in the city centre: photograph uneven floors, old windows, timber beams and any damp, and note what the landlord can and cannot change.
- Riverside apartments near the station: note fob and key counts, the intercom, parking bays and the condition of balconies.
- Inter-war estate homes in Mile Cross: photograph windows, doors, gardens, fences and sheds.
Homes sold in Norwich in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 662 | £263,861 |
| Flat or maisonette | 393 | £155,852 |
| Semi-detached | 234 | £305,935 |
| Detached | 146 | £485,522 |
| Other | 60 | £597,175 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Norwich: questions
Is there selective licensing in Norwich?
No selective licensing scheme in force. A 2026 review of the private rented sector found evidence that could support selective licensing in Nelson, Mile Cross, Town Close and Sewell wards; councillors were asked only to note it, and any scheme would need a consultation first. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Norwich?
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 Norwich?
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.