DIY InventoryLetting a property in Sevenoaks: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Sevenoaks.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Sevenoaks
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council licenses only HMOs with five or more people from two or more households (the national mandatory scheme). Smaller HMOs need no licence but must follow the HMO management regulations.
- Fees: £1,031 for a mandatory HMO licence for up to five units, paid in two stages (council fee page; may be out of date)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Sevenoaks District Council.
Sevenoaks District 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 Sevenoaks 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 Sevenoaks homes
- Period cottages in villages such as Otford, Shoreham and Westerham: photograph beams, low ceilings, chimney breasts and any damp on solid walls.
- Large detached houses: record the garden, hedges, gates, garages and any outbuildings, and agree what upkeep the tenant is expected to do.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank and gauge level, or the LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
- Flats near Sevenoaks and Swanley stations: note fob, key and parking permit counts and the bin store arrangements.
- Homes with wood burners or open fires: photograph the stove glass, hearth and any sweep certificate left for the tenant.
Homes sold in Sevenoaks in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 320 | £1,039,099 |
| Semi-detached | 307 | £540,638 |
| Terraced | 299 | £423,534 |
| Flat or maisonette | 160 | £307,081 |
| Other | 41 | £797,301 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Sevenoaks: questions
Is there selective licensing in Sevenoaks?
No selective licensing scheme. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Sevenoaks?
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 Sevenoaks?
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.