DIY InventoryLetting a property in Sandwell: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Sandwell.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Sandwell
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme found on the council's pages; a selective scheme for West Bromwich was consulted on earlier but the council went ahead with additional HMO licensing instead.
- Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide additional licensing for privately rented HMOs with three or more people from two or more households, from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029 (it replaced the earlier West Bromwich scheme). Larger HMOs need a mandatory licence.
- Fees: £1,001 for a five-year additional HMO licence, paid in two stages, with discounts of up to £220 for accredited landlords
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.
Sandwell 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 Sandwell 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 Sandwell homes
- Victorian terraces in Smethwick and West Bromwich: photograph the back yard, entry passage, rear gate, gutters and any damp on rear walls.
- Shared houses: check the HMO licence and photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen, as the whole borough needs a licence.
- Former council houses: record the condition of the boiler, fencing, sheds and any non-standard construction such as concrete panel walls.
- Homes by the canals in Tipton and Oldbury: look for and photograph condensation, mould and damp around windows and in corners.
- Flats in post-war blocks: note key and fob counts, the bin store, the door entry system and the communal stairs.
Homes sold in Sandwell in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 856 | £233,988 |
| Terraced | 639 | £197,625 |
| Detached | 210 | £307,460 |
| Flat or maisonette | 200 | £104,079 |
| Other | 72 | £533,950 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Sandwell: questions
Is there selective licensing in Sandwell?
No selective licensing scheme found on the council's pages; a selective scheme for West Bromwich was consulted on earlier but the council went ahead with additional HMO licensing instead. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Sandwell?
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 Sandwell?
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.