DIY InventoryLetting a property in Sunderland: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Sunderland.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Sunderland
We couldn’t confirm the current scheme. Check with Sunderland City Council.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England.
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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland homes
- Single-storey Sunderland cottages in Millfield and Pallion: photograph the roof space access, back yards and any damp in the rear rooms.
- Seafront homes in Roker and Seaburn: check window frames, outside paintwork and metalwork for salt and weather damage.
- Student lets near the university: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors, alarms and shared kitchen items.
- Washington new-town houses: note shared paths, garages in blocks and any flat-roof extensions or porches.
- Former colliery terraces in Houghton and Hetton: photograph back lanes, yard walls, outhouses and any signs of damp.
Homes sold in Sunderland in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,125 | £122,399 |
| Semi-detached | 981 | £165,894 |
| Detached | 373 | £294,994 |
| Flat or maisonette | 227 | £68,267 |
| Other | 78 | £401,314 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Sunderland: questions
What certificates does a landlord need in Sunderland?
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 Sunderland?
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.