DIY InventoryLetting a property in South Kesteven: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in South Kesteven.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in South Kesteven
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more occupiers from two or more households need a mandatory licence, whatever the number of storeys. Councillors have called for tighter controls on small HMOs in Grantham, but no wider licensing was in force at the last check.
- Fees: £1,133.50 for a new five-bedroom HMO licence (Part A £570.50 plus Part B £563), more for extra bedrooms (2026/27)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: South Kesteven District Council.
South Kesteven 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 Kesteven 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 Kesteven homes
- Victorian terraces in Grantham: record the back yard, rear gate, gutters and any damp on rear walls and in cellars.
- Stone Georgian houses in Stamford: photograph sash windows, shutters, fireplaces and any damp on solid walls; many are listed, so note original features.
- New-build estates in Bourne, the Deepings and south Grantham: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and the garden.
- Shared houses in Grantham: photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors, smoke alarms and the shared kitchen, and check the HMO licence for five or more sharers.
- Village homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank and gauge level or LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
Homes sold in South Kesteven in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 646 | £401,018 |
| Semi-detached | 453 | £240,704 |
| Terraced | 351 | £214,230 |
| Flat or maisonette | 80 | £132,718 |
| Other | 35 | £530,369 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in South Kesteven: questions
Is there selective licensing in South Kesteven?
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 Kesteven?
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 Kesteven?
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 Kesteven check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
Start free