DIY InventoryLetting a property in St Helens: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in St Helens.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in St Helens
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: a mandatory licence is needed for privately rented homes with five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. The five-year licence is an initial application followed by yearly renewals.
- Fees: £248 a year for an HMO licence (2026/27)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: St Helens Borough Council.
St Helens 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 St Helens 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 Helens homes
- Victorian terraces in Thatto Heath, Parr and Sutton: record the back yard, rear alley gate, gutters, chimneys and any damp in rear rooms.
- Homes on former mining land: photograph any cracks in walls or ceilings and doors or windows that stick, which may come from ground movement.
- Former council houses in Parr and Haydock: photograph the boiler, fencing, sheds and gardens, and note any non-standard construction.
- Stone cottages in Billinge: check walls inside for damp, and photograph window reveals and chimney breasts.
- New-build homes on former industrial sites in Sutton and Newton-le-Willows: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and the garden.
Homes sold in St Helens in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 743 | £209,929 |
| Terraced | 697 | £136,969 |
| Detached | 267 | £361,284 |
| Flat or maisonette | 81 | £107,422 |
| Other | 65 | £323,497 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in St Helens: questions
Is there selective licensing in St Helens?
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 St Helens?
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 Helens?
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.