DIY InventoryLetting a property in Swale: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Swale.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Swale
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more unrelated people sharing facilities.
- Fees: £896 for a five-year mandatory HMO licence, or £761 for accredited landlords
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Swale Borough Council.
Swale 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 Swale 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 Swale homes
- Coastal homes on Sheppey: check window frames, metal fittings, gutters and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Bungalows and chalets in Minster and Leysdown: photograph roofs, flat-roof extensions, damp patches and any electric storage heaters.
- Victorian terraces in Sittingbourne and Sheerness: record back yards, rear walls and any damp low on the walls.
- Listed and period homes in Faversham: photograph sash windows, old floors, fireplaces and any cracks in plaster.
- New-build estates around Iwade and Sittingbourne: note snagging marks, fences, turf and allocated parking.
Homes sold in Swale in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 602 | £261,924 |
| Semi-detached | 477 | £323,619 |
| Detached | 330 | £467,254 |
| Flat or maisonette | 156 | £172,564 |
| Other | 54 | £469,651 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Swale: questions
Is there selective licensing in Swale?
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 Swale?
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 Swale?
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.