DIY Inventory← All areas · South Cambridgeshire
For landlordsLetting a property in South Cambridgeshire: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in South Cambridgeshire.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in South Cambridgeshire
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only HMOs that fall under the national mandatory scheme (five or more people from two or more households) need a licence.
- Fees: £869 for a five-year HMO licence for up to five bedrooms plus £35 for each extra bedroom; renewal £528 (2025/26)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: South Cambridgeshire District Council.
South Cambridgeshire 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 South Cambridgeshire 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 South Cambridgeshire homes
- New-build homes in Cambourne, Northstowe and on the edge of Cambridge: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and gardens, and note who maintains shared green spaces.
- Thatched and timber-framed cottages: record the visible condition of the thatch, beams and plaster, and photograph smoke alarms and any wood burner.
- Village homes off the gas grid: photograph the oil tank and gauge level, or the LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
- Homes near the science parks let to research staff: note the furniture and appliances in detail, as many lets are furnished and short.
- Fenland-edge villages such as Cottenham: check for damp, cracks from ground movement and the condition of drains and gutters.
Homes sold in South Cambridgeshire in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 551 | £662,208 |
| Semi-detached | 418 | £412,375 |
| Terraced | 289 | £331,762 |
| Flat or maisonette | 84 | £211,739 |
| Other | 59 | £1,116,888 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in South Cambridgeshire: questions
Is there selective licensing in South Cambridgeshire?
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 South Cambridgeshire?
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 South Cambridgeshire?
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Do your South Cambridgeshire check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
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