DIY InventoryLetting a property in Wirral: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Wirral.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Wirral
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing in ten areas of Birkenhead and Wallasey under two schemes: Birkenhead West, Seacombe St Paul's, Bidston and St James West and Egremont North (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029), and Birkenhead Central, Egremont South, Hamilton Square B, Lower Tranmere, Tranmere Lairds and Tranmere North (1 October 2025 to 30 September 2030). Every privately rented home in those areas needs a licence.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
- Fees: £605 for a selective licence in the 2025 to 2030 scheme (applied for online; £100 more on paper)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Wirral Council.
Wirral 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 Wirral 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 Wirral homes
- Homes in a selective licensing area of Birkenhead or Wallasey: check the licence is in place and photograph the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms its conditions require.
- Victorian terraces in Tranmere, Rock Ferry and Seacombe: photograph back yards, damp in rear kitchens, alleys and older windows.
- Large houses split into flats near Hamilton Square and the Wallasey promenade: note communal halls, fire doors, meters and the number of keys.
- Seafront homes in New Brighton, Hoylake and West Kirby: photograph window frames, render and metalwork for salt and wind damage.
- Listed cottages in Port Sunlight: record original doors, windows and fittings, which can't be changed without consent.
- Bungalows in Heswall and Greasby: photograph gardens, garages, driveways and any mobility adaptations.
Homes sold in Wirral in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 1,369 | £261,580 |
| Terraced | 924 | £162,392 |
| Detached | 585 | £460,356 |
| Flat or maisonette | 470 | £153,120 |
| Other | 90 | £459,194 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Wirral: questions
Is there selective licensing in Wirral?
Selective licensing in ten areas of Birkenhead and Wallasey under two schemes: Birkenhead West, Seacombe St Paul's, Bidston and St James West and Egremont North (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029), and Birkenhead Central, Egremont South, Hamilton Square B, Lower Tranmere, Tranmere Lairds and Tranmere North (1 October 2025 to 30 September 2030). Every privately rented home in those areas needs a licence. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Wirral?
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 Wirral?
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.