DIY InventoryLetting a property in Winchester: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Winchester.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Winchester
- 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). Smaller shared houses of three or four tenants can join the council's voluntary Shared Housing Accreditation Scheme, and Article 4 planning controls on new HMOs apply in Winnall and Stanmore.
- Fees: £1,247 for a new HMO licence and £983 to renew (from 1 April 2026)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Winchester City Council.
Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester homes
- Listed and period homes in the city centre: photograph original windows, fireplaces and floors carefully, as repairs need consent.
- Student houses in Stanmore and Winnall: record each bedroom's lock, furniture and fire doors, and check a licence is in place for five or more sharers.
- Victorian terraces in Fulflood and Hyde: photograph sash windows, damp in cellars and rear gardens.
- Chalk-stream valley homes along the Itchen: check for groundwater flooding, airbricks and watermarks.
- Rural homes off the gas network: note the oil tank level, wood burners and any septic tank.
- Modern estates at Whiteley and Barton Farm: check sealant, flooring and snagging marks, and who maintains shared land.
Homes sold in Winchester in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | 417 | £800,383 |
| Terraced | 314 | £445,118 |
| Semi-detached | 310 | £485,759 |
| Flat or maisonette | 186 | £268,167 |
| Other | 51 | £1,078,801 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Winchester: questions
Is there selective licensing in Winchester?
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 Winchester?
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 Winchester?
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.