Letting a property in Waltham Forest: a landlord’s guide

General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.

Landlord licensing in Waltham Forest

• Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers every ward except Hatch Lane, Highams Park North and Endlebury, from May 2025 until 30 April 2030, for privately rented homes that aren't HMOs.
• Additional HMO licensing: Additional licensing covers the whole borough for smaller HMOs (two or three people in two or more households) from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2030.
• Fees: Selective licence £895 (Part A £300, Part B £595); additional HMO licence £1,200 (Part A £600, Part B £600), with discounts for several homes in one building and for EPC A or B.

Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Waltham Forest Council.

Waltham Forest 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 Waltham Forest 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 Waltham Forest homes

• Upper and lower flats in Victorian and Warner-built terraces: photograph the shared or separate front doors, the garden and who has access to it, and the separate meters.
• Sash and bay windows in the Victorian terraces: photograph cords, catches, locks and any rot on sills.
• Converted terraces often have kitchens or bathrooms in rear extensions: photograph ceilings, walls and around windows for damp and mould.
• New blocks around Lea Bridge and Blackhorse Road: photograph integrated appliances, ventilation units and balconies, and record fob, key and bike store access.
• Interwar houses in Chingford and Highams Park: photograph garages, side gates, fences and the garden, and note who maintains them.
• Photograph the boiler, stopcock and fuse board, which are often in a basement, under-stairs cupboard or loft in these houses.

Start your inventory free

Homes sold in Waltham Forest in the last 12 months

Type	Sales	Average price
Terraced	893	£681,898
Flat or maisonette	770	£389,410
Semi-detached	164	£713,886
Other	54	£614,659
Detached	29	£775,724

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.