DIY InventoryLetting a property in St Albans: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in St Albans.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in St Albans
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council's enforcement policy (reviewed 2024) says it has not found a need for one.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council only requires the national mandatory licence, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, for up to five years.
- Fees: £207 per person with a minimum of £1,035 for an HMO licence
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: St Albans City and District Council.
St Albans City and 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 St Albans 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 St Albans homes
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Fleetville and near the stations: photograph sash or bay windows, chimney breasts, gardens and any damp in rear rooms.
- Listed and conservation-area houses in the city centre: record original features such as fireplaces, shutters and old windows in detail, as repairs need consent.
- Large family houses in Harpenden and Marshalswick: photograph gardens, hedges, garages and driveways, and agree what upkeep the tenant is expected to do.
- Flats near St Albans City and Harpenden stations: note fob, key, parking permit and bike store counts, and the bin store arrangements.
- Period cottages in Redbourn and Wheathampstead: photograph beams, low ceilings, damp on solid walls and any wood burner.
Homes sold in St Albans in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 372 | £614,323 |
| Semi-detached | 340 | £791,775 |
| Flat or maisonette | 325 | £328,787 |
| Detached | 265 | £1,145,689 |
| Other | 26 | £1,757,529 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in St Albans: questions
Is there selective licensing in St Albans?
No selective licensing scheme: the council's enforcement policy (reviewed 2024) says it has not found a need for one. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in St Albans?
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 St Albans?
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.