DIY InventoryLetting a property in Southwark: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Southwark.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Southwark
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers 19 wards in four designations for homes let to one household: designations 1 and 2 (Newington, Champion Hill, Faraday, St Giles and Goose Green) from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2027, and designations 3 and 4 (including Peckham, Old Kent Road, North Walworth, Nunhead & Queens Road, Rotherhithe, Rye Lane and Camberwell Green) from 1 November 2023 until 31 October 2028.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional licensing covers the whole borough for smaller HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing, from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2027.
- Fees: Selective licence £945 (Part A £661.50, Part B £283.50); additional HMO licence £1,433 from 1 April 2026 (Part A £1,017.50, Part B £415.50). Paper applications cost £179.70 more.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Southwark Council.
Southwark 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 Southwark 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 Southwark homes
- Ex-council flats on estates: photograph the front door, entry phone, communal landing and bin chute or store, and record every fob and key.
- Victorian terrace conversions in Peckham, Camberwell and East Dulwich: photograph sash windows, shared hallways and the meter cupboard, and note which meters belong to the flat.
- Warehouse conversions in Bermondsey and Shad Thames: photograph exposed brick, timber floors and large metal-framed windows, where marks and condensation show.
- New-build towers at Elephant and Castle and Canada Water: photograph integrated appliances, extractor and ventilation units, and balcony doors and decking.
- In older terraces, photograph any damp or mould on bathroom ceilings and behind furniture, as these are common in converted flats.
- Note bike store access, parking permits and concierge or parcel room arrangements in managed blocks.
Homes sold in Southwark in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 1,407 | £500,888 |
| Terraced | 369 | £936,234 |
| Semi-detached | 91 | £1,416,337 |
| Other | 80 | £1,581,651 |
| Detached | 19 | £2,170,941 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Southwark: questions
Is there selective licensing in Southwark?
Selective licensing covers 19 wards in four designations for homes let to one household: designations 1 and 2 (Newington, Champion Hill, Faraday, St Giles and Goose Green) from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2027, and designations 3 and 4 (including Peckham, Old Kent Road, North Walworth, Nunhead & Queens Road, Rotherhithe, Rye Lane and Camberwell Green) from 1 November 2023 until 31 October 2028. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Southwark?
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 Southwark?
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.