DIY InventoryLetting a property in Torbay: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Torbay.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Torbay
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force. The council's forward plan lists a business case on selective and/or additional licensing to be considered; no scheme had been agreed at the last check.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme in force; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people in two or more households sharing facilities.
- Fees: £2,007 for a new mandatory HMO licence, paid in two parts (£1,701 to renew)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Torbay Council.
Torbay 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 Torbay 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 Torbay homes
- Converted hotels and villas in Torquay and Paignton: record each flat's front door, fire doors, alarms, shared hallways and meter cupboards.
- Seafront homes: check window frames, balconies, metal fittings and outside paintwork for salt and wind damage.
- Steep-street cottages in Brixham: photograph steps, handrails, retaining walls and any damp in walls set into the hillside.
- Bedsits and small HMOs: record each room's lock and key, the shared kitchen and bathroom, and the heating in each room.
- Former holiday lets now let long term: note furniture and appliances supplied and their condition, room by room.
Homes sold in Torbay in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 451 | £221,184 |
| Flat or maisonette | 431 | £160,350 |
| Detached | 356 | £437,737 |
| Semi-detached | 352 | £277,777 |
| Other | 52 | £449,389 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Torbay: questions
Is there selective licensing in Torbay?
No selective licensing scheme in force. The council's forward plan lists a business case on selective and/or additional licensing to be considered; no scheme had been agreed 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 Torbay?
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 Torbay?
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.