DIY InventoryLetting a property in Thanet: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Thanet.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Thanet
- Selective licensing: No current designation found: selective licensing covered parts of Margate Central and Cliftonville West from April 2011 until 20 April 2021. In 2025 the council approved a budget to develop new selective licensing proposals for parts of Margate and Ramsgate; no new scheme had been found in force at the last check.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Thanet District Council.
Thanet District 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 Thanet 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 Thanet homes
- Converted hotels and guest houses in Cliftonville: record each flat's front door, fire doors, alarms, shared hallways and meter cupboards.
- Seafront homes in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate: check window frames, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Listed Regency terraces in Ramsgate: photograph sash windows, shutters, plasterwork and basement areas for damp.
- Student lets near the university in Broadstairs: record each bedroom lock and key and the shared kitchen items.
- Bungalows in Birchington and Westgate: note flat-roof extensions, gutters, garages and garden condition.
Homes sold in Thanet in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 429 | £269,484 |
| Semi-detached | 420 | £318,982 |
| Flat or maisonette | 334 | £183,962 |
| Detached | 308 | £472,821 |
| Other | 64 | £398,885 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Thanet: questions
Is there selective licensing in Thanet?
No current designation found: selective licensing covered parts of Margate Central and Cliftonville West from April 2011 until 20 April 2021. In 2025 the council approved a budget to develop new selective licensing proposals for parts of Margate and Ramsgate; no new scheme had been found in force at the last check. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Thanet?
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 Thanet?
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.