DIY InventoryLetting a property in Walsall: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Walsall.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Walsall
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing covers HMOs with three or more tenants from more than one household in Paddock, Palfrey, Pleck and St Matthew's wards, from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027. A second scheme for Bentley and Darlaston North, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Darlaston South and Willenhall South was approved in 2022, but later council papers say it did not go ahead; check with the council. Larger HMOs elsewhere 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: Walsall Council.
Walsall 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 Walsall 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 Walsall homes
- Small HMOs in Paddock, Palfrey, Pleck and St Matthew's: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors, alarms and the shared kitchen, and keep the licence with the report.
- Victorian terraces in Caldmore and Willenhall: photograph back yards, rear walls and any damp low on the walls.
- Post-war estate homes in Blakenall and Bloxwich: check window seals, boiler cupboards and any condensation on outside walls.
- Former mining-area homes in Brownhills: note any cracks in walls and record the mining report if one was supplied.
- Family semis in Aldridge and Streetly: photograph gardens, fences, sheds and garage doors as lets often include them.
Homes sold in Walsall in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 787 | £236,622 |
| Terraced | 602 | £185,244 |
| Detached | 388 | £381,491 |
| Flat or maisonette | 200 | £119,665 |
| Other | 68 | £463,946 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Walsall: questions
Is there selective licensing in Walsall?
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 Walsall?
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 Walsall?
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.