DIY InventoryLetting a property in Test Valley: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Test Valley.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Test Valley
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more occupants, whatever the number of storeys.
- Fees: £466 to apply for a mandatory HMO licence plus £255 once it is granted (£383 to renew), 2026/27
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Test Valley Borough Council.
Test Valley 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 Test Valley 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 Test Valley homes
- Thatched cottages in the Test valley villages: photograph the thatch, chimneys, low beams and any damp in old walls.
- Overspill estate homes in Andover: check window seals, garages in blocks and shared paths and parking courts.
- New-build homes at Augusta Park and Picket Twenty: note snagging marks, fences, turf and any management company areas.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank or LPG supply, fuel level and boiler service label.
- Homes near the River Test in Romsey and Stockbridge: check ground floors and walls for damp or past flood marks.
Homes sold in Test Valley in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 417 | £626,407 |
| Terraced | 366 | £304,223 |
| Semi-detached | 302 | £364,770 |
| Flat or maisonette | 174 | £199,237 |
| Other | 48 | £1,382,351 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Test Valley: questions
Is there selective licensing in Test Valley?
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 Test Valley?
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 Test Valley?
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Do your Test Valley check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
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