DIY InventoryLetting a property in York: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in York.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in York
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028 in eight wards: Clifton, Guildhall, Heworth, Micklegate, Fishergate, Hull Road, Fulford & Heslington, and Osbaldwick & Derwent. HMOs with three or four people from two or more households sharing facilities need a licence there; national mandatory HMO licensing covers five or more everywhere.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: City of York Council.
City of York 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 York 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 York homes
- Riverside homes along the Ouse and Foss: photograph flood defences, airbricks, flood doors and watermarks, as these streets flood often.
- Shared houses in Heslington, Tang Hall, Hull Road and Fishergate: check the HMO licence even for three or four sharers, and photograph each room's lock, furniture and fire doors.
- Victorian terraces in South Bank and the Groves: photograph back yards, damp in rear kitchens, sash windows and the shared alleys.
- Listed buildings inside the city walls: record original features carefully, as repairs need consent.
- Converted flats and flats over shops in the centre: note communal entrances, fire doors, meters and bin arrangements.
- Interwar council-built homes in Acomb and Tang Hall: photograph fences, gardens and any non-standard construction.
Homes sold in York in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 611 | £337,918 |
| Semi-detached | 602 | £330,576 |
| Detached | 382 | £483,355 |
| Flat or maisonette | 338 | £215,339 |
| Other | 59 | £997,232 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in York: questions
Is there selective licensing in York?
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 York?
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 York?
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.