DIY InventoryLetting a property in Watford: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Watford.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Watford
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). Licences last up to five years.
- Fees: £1,557.70 for a new HMO licence, £1,295.90 to renew (council fee list)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Watford Borough Council.
Watford 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 Watford 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 Watford homes
- New-build and converted apartment blocks in the town centre: photograph the entry phone, fobs, post box key and any parking or bike store access.
- Office-to-flat conversions: check ventilation, window opening and signs of condensation in smaller rooms.
- Terraces split into flats in West Watford: note meter locations, communal hall condition and fire doors.
- Shared houses: record each bedroom's lock, furniture and smoke alarms, and check whether five or more sharers means an HMO licence is needed.
- Ex-council maisonettes in Garston and Meriden: photograph communal stairs, balconies and bin store arrangements.
- Gardens behind Victorian terraces: photograph fences, sheds and rear access gates.
Homes sold in Watford in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 258 | £263,565 |
| Terraced | 247 | £434,701 |
| Semi-detached | 149 | £584,414 |
| Detached | 74 | £924,871 |
| Other | 25 | £632,928 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Watford: questions
Is there selective licensing in Watford?
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 Watford?
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 Watford?
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.