DIY InventoryLetting a property in Rotherham: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Rotherham.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Rotherham
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing in six areas designated on 14 November 2025 for the 2026 to 2031 scheme: Town Centre/Eastwood/East Dene/Clifton/Boston Castle, Masbrough/Kimberworth, Thurcroft, Dinnington, Brinsworth and Parkgate; it renews and extends the 2020–2025 scheme. The council's page lists the streets.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies.
- Fees: £995 per property proposed for the 2026–2031 selective licence at consultation, with discounts for landlords who earned a management rebate under the previous scheme
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough 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 Rotherham 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 Rotherham homes
- Homes in the selective licensing areas: note the licence number and photograph smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, which are licence conditions.
- Victorian terraces in Eastwood and Masbrough: record damp at the base of walls, cellar heads, back yards and rear alleys.
- Former colliery terraces in Dinnington, Maltby and Thurcroft: photograph any cracks, uneven floors, outbuildings and the state of gutters.
- Post-war estate homes: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and older boilers and windows.
- Flats over shops in the town centre: record the separate entrance, stairs, fire doors and where the meters are.
Homes sold in Rotherham in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 1,092 | £188,951 |
| Terraced | 584 | £134,594 |
| Detached | 571 | £327,891 |
| Flat or maisonette | 99 | £106,663 |
| Other | 81 | £1,149,077 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Rotherham: questions
Is there selective licensing in Rotherham?
Selective licensing in six areas designated on 14 November 2025 for the 2026 to 2031 scheme: Town Centre/Eastwood/East Dene/Clifton/Boston Castle, Masbrough/Kimberworth, Thurcroft, Dinnington, Brinsworth and Parkgate; it renews and extends the 2020–2025 scheme. The council's page lists the streets. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Rotherham?
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 Rotherham?
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.