DIY InventoryLetting a property in Plymouth: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Plymouth.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Plymouth
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme found; the council's HMO licensing policy says these powers have not been adopted in Plymouth.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Plymouth City Council.
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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth homes
- Student houses in Mutley and Greenbank: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Exposed homes facing the Sound and on the hills: record damp and mould, salt marks on windows and rust on railings and fittings.
- Flats in Stonehouse and Stoke's split Victorian houses: note communal hallways, meter cupboards, fire doors and the key count.
- Waterfront apartments in the Barbican and Royal William Yard: note fob counts, parking bays, balconies and any listed-building features.
- Hillside terraces: photograph steps, retaining walls, gutters and the state of rear lanes and yards.
- New-build homes in Sherford: record snagging marks, sealant and new turf, fences and parking.
Homes sold in Plymouth in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,230 | £224,889 |
| Semi-detached | 777 | £271,740 |
| Flat or maisonette | 569 | £147,692 |
| Detached | 257 | £423,614 |
| Other | 75 | £380,417 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Plymouth: questions
Is there selective licensing in Plymouth?
No selective licensing scheme found; the council's HMO licensing policy says these powers have not been adopted in Plymouth. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Plymouth?
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 Plymouth?
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.