Letting a property in Westminster: 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 Westminster

• Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers 15 of the 18 wards (all except Pimlico South, St James's and Vincent Square) in two designations from 24 November 2025 until 23 November 2030, for privately rented homes that aren't HMOs.
• Additional HMO licensing: Additional licensing covers the whole city for smaller shared houses and flats (three or more people in two or more households); the renewed scheme runs from 31 August 2026 until 30 August 2031, and existing licences stay valid until they expire.
• Fees: Additional HMO licence £1,540 for five years; selective licence £995 (Part A £543, Part B £452), with discounts for accredited landlords and EPC B or above.

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

Westminster City 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 Westminster 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 Westminster homes

• Mansion blocks in Marylebone, Maida Vale and St John’s Wood: photograph the communal entrance, lift, porterage and post arrangements, and record every key and fob.
• Stucco terraces in Pimlico and Bayswater: photograph sash windows, shutters, cornicing and any damp in basement flats.
• Furnished high-value lets: photograph each item of furniture, soft furnishings, artwork and appliance, with close-ups of any marks.
• Flats above shops in Soho and Covent Garden: photograph the street door, stairs and any rear fire escape, and note who holds the keys to the communal door.
• Lower-ground and basement flats: photograph lightwells, drains and walls for damp, and any window bars or security grilles.
• Note the building’s rules on moving in, parking and bike storage, and photograph the meter readings, which are often in a communal cupboard.

Start your inventory free

Homes sold in Westminster in the last 12 months

Type	Sales	Average price
Flat or maisonette	1,218	£1,024,455
Terraced	149	£2,967,381
Other	140	£10,715,053
Semi-detached	13	£5,437,154
Detached	9	£6,109,877

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