DIY InventoryLetting a property in Swindon: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Swindon.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Swindon
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to properties with five or more people from more than one household.
- Fees: £1,474 for a five-year mandatory HMO licence applied for online, up to 10 occupants (£1,755 on paper; £1,193 to renew online), from 1 April 2026
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Swindon Borough Council.
Swindon 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 Swindon 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 Swindon homes
- Victorian terraces in Gorse Hill and Rodbourne: photograph back yards, rear walls, outhouses and any damp in the back rooms.
- Office-to-flat conversions in the town centre: record room sizes, windows, ventilation, fob counts and bin store access.
- 1970s and 1980s houses in West Swindon: check window seals, garages in blocks and shared paths and parking courts.
- New-build homes in North Swindon and Wichelstowe: note snagging marks, fences, turf and any management company areas.
- Railway Village cottages in a conservation area: photograph original windows, doors and stonework, as changes may need consent.
Homes sold in Swindon in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 933 | £247,898 |
| Semi-detached | 627 | £306,774 |
| Detached | 442 | £452,592 |
| Flat or maisonette | 314 | £149,003 |
| Other | 48 | £552,755 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Swindon: questions
Is there selective licensing in Swindon?
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 Swindon?
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 Swindon?
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.