DIY InventoryLetting a property in Worthing: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Worthing.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Worthing
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme found in force. In March 2024 the council agreed to consult on and scope a selective licensing scheme for Heene, Central and Selden wards; no designation had been confirmed when checked.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Worthing Borough Council (Adur & Worthing Councils).
Worthing Borough Council (Adur & Worthing Councils): 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 Worthing 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 Worthing homes
- Victorian and Regency houses split into flats in the centre and Heene: photograph communal halls, fire doors and meters, and count keys and fobs.
- Seafront flats: photograph window frames, balconies and metal fittings for salt and wind damage, and note any condensation or mould.
- Basement and ground-floor flats in converted houses: check for damp, ventilation and the condition of lightwells.
- Bungalows in Goring and Findon Valley: photograph gardens, garages, conservatories and any mobility adaptations.
- Flats over shops on Montague Street and Chapel Road: note separate entrances, rear access and bin storage.
- Homes on the shingle coast: check airbricks and gardens for flood or storm damage.
Homes sold in Worthing in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 422 | £214,538 |
| Semi-detached | 269 | £412,571 |
| Terraced | 245 | £348,819 |
| Detached | 223 | £543,711 |
| Other | 34 | £512,554 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Worthing: questions
Is there selective licensing in Worthing?
No selective licensing scheme found in force. In March 2024 the council agreed to consult on and scope a selective licensing scheme for Heene, Central and Selden wards; no designation had been confirmed when checked. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Worthing?
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 Worthing?
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.