DIY InventoryLetting a property in Sefton: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Sefton.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Sefton
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers a defined area of Bootle, re-designated from 1 March 2023 for five years. Check the council's map for the exact streets.
- Additional HMO licensing: Two additional HMO licensing schemes, also from 1 March 2023: central Southport, and parts of Waterloo, Seaforth and Brighton-le-Sands. Larger HMOs anywhere in Sefton need a mandatory licence.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Sefton Council.
Sefton 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 Sefton 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 Sefton homes
- Converted Victorian villas in Southport and Waterloo: note which rooms and fittings belong to the flat, and photograph the communal hall, stairs, meters and fire doors.
- Homes near the seafront at Southport, Ainsdale and Crosby: check window frames, outside paint and metal fittings for salt and wind damage, and look for sand in door tracks.
- Victorian terraces in Bootle: check the selective licence, and photograph the back yard, rear alley gate, gutters and any damp on the back walls.
- Shared houses in the additional licensing areas: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom.
- Bungalows and semis in Formby and Maghull: record the garden, fencing, garage and driveway, which tenants are often expected to keep up.
Homes sold in Sefton in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 1,201 | £249,570 |
| Terraced | 603 | £167,063 |
| Flat or maisonette | 441 | £141,398 |
| Detached | 416 | £433,104 |
| Other | 88 | £531,824 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Sefton: questions
Is there selective licensing in Sefton?
Selective licensing covers a defined area of Bootle, re-designated from 1 March 2023 for five years. Check the council's map for the exact streets. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Sefton?
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 Sefton?
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.