DIY InventoryLetting a property in Stafford: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Stafford.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Stafford
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only larger HMOs, rented to five or more people from more than one household who share facilities, need a mandatory licence.
- Fees: £858.15 for a five-year HMO licence for up to eight bedrooms (first application), £738.70 to renew, 10% off for accredited landlords (2026/27)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Stafford Borough Council.
Stafford 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 Stafford 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 Stafford homes
- Victorian terraces near Stafford town centre: record the back yard, rear gate, gutters and any damp in rear rooms and cellars.
- Canal-side homes in Stone and Great Haywood: check for damp, condensation and mould in ground-floor rooms and photograph moorings or gardens that run to the towpath.
- Homes near the River Sow and Trent: check ground floors and gardens for signs of past flooding.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank and gauge level or LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
- New-build estates around Stafford and Stone: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and the garden, and note any estate management charge areas.
Homes sold in Stafford in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 490 | £393,911 |
| Semi-detached | 455 | £243,992 |
| Terraced | 341 | £205,004 |
| Flat or maisonette | 112 | £138,155 |
| Other | 38 | £763,867 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Stafford: questions
Is there selective licensing in Stafford?
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 Stafford?
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 Stafford?
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.