DIY InventoryLetting a property in Stoke-on-Trent: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Stoke-on-Trent.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Stoke-on-Trent
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force: the earlier schemes in Cobridge and Fenton ended on 4 August 2019.
- Additional HMO licensing: Mandatory HMO licensing only for now. In August 2026 the council proposed a citywide additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs, subject to consultation, alongside a citywide Article 4 Direction limiting new HMOs; no final decision had been found at the last check.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Stoke-on-Trent City 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 Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent homes
- Victorian terraces in Burslem, Tunstall and Fenton: photograph back yards, rear walls and any damp or salt marks low on the walls.
- Student HMOs in Shelton: record each bedroom door lock and key, fire doors, alarms and the kitchen equipment shared between tenants.
- Older homes with solid walls: check bedroom corners and behind furniture for condensation and black mould, especially in winter.
- Flats over shops in Hanley and Longton: note the separate entrance, stairs, fire door and any shared meter cupboard.
- Terraced houses with gas fires or back boilers: photograph the appliance and its service label, and attach the gas safety certificate.
Homes sold in Stoke-on-Trent in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,004 | £111,189 |
| Semi-detached | 908 | £168,372 |
| Detached | 361 | £273,460 |
| Other | 94 | £234,007 |
| Flat or maisonette | 91 | £78,808 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Stoke-on-Trent: questions
Is there selective licensing in Stoke-on-Trent?
No selective licensing scheme in force: the earlier schemes in Cobridge and Fenton ended on 4 August 2019. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Stoke-on-Trent?
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 Stoke-on-Trent?
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.
Nearby areas
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