DIY InventoryLetting a property in Solihull: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Solihull.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Solihull
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people forming more than one household need a mandatory licence. The council's housing strategy says it will review the need for additional licensing of smaller HMOs.
- Fees: £1,075 for a mandatory HMO licence, with a £108 discount for NRLA members
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
Solihull 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 Solihull 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 Solihull homes
- Ex-council houses and maisonettes in Chelmsley Wood and Kingshurst: record the boiler, fencing, communal stairs, bin stores and door entry system.
- Larger family homes in Knowle, Dorridge and Shirley: photograph gardens, hedges, garages, driveways and conservatories, which tenants are often expected to keep up.
- Flats in Solihull town centre: note fob, key and parking permit counts and the post box and bin store arrangements.
- Homes near Birmingham Airport in Elmdon and Marston Green: record the windows and any secondary glazing or acoustic insulation.
- Tower blocks in the north of the borough: photograph fire doors, smoke alarms and any building safety notices in the communal areas.
Homes sold in Solihull in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 769 | £362,347 |
| Detached | 525 | £649,237 |
| Terraced | 410 | £270,439 |
| Flat or maisonette | 352 | £180,808 |
| Other | 60 | £767,279 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Solihull: questions
Is there selective licensing in Solihull?
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 Solihull?
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 Solihull?
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.