Landlord Licensing in Oxford

Reviewed by Bradley Askew, Solicitor (non-practising), England & Wales. Reviewed 3 August 2026.

Oxford City Council runs a city-wide selective licensing scheme covering every rented property in the city, alongside a separate city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme. This guide sets out what's currently designated, what it costs, and what you risk by letting unlicensed — sourced directly from Oxford's own published pages, not secondary summaries, because these schemes change frequently.

Current schemes at a glance

Scheme	Coverage	Dates	Fee
Selective licensing	The whole Oxford City Council area — every privately rented property not already covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing needs a selective licence.	1 September 2022 – 31 August 2027	£853 standard
Additional HMO licensing	City-wide — smaller HMOs (3–4 occupiers, 2+ households) and section 257 HMOs, in addition to Oxford's separate selective licensing scheme.	25 June 2026 – 25 June 2031	see council fee schedule

Schemes change — wards get added, fees rise annually, and designations lapse or get renewed. Always check the council's own page (linked below) for the current position before applying or relying on a fee figure.

Scheme detail

Selective licensing

Coverage. The whole Oxford City Council area — every privately rented property not already covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing needs a selective licence.

Dates. In force from 1 September 2022. Runs until 31 August 2027.

Fee. £853 standard (Stage 1 £323 + Stage 2 £530) for the 2026/27 fee year; £612 with the accreditation discount; £1,803 higher rate if the property has been let unlicensed for 12 weeks or more; £210 to renew.

• No instalment plan is offered — fees are payable up front at each stage
• The accreditation discount route requires the landlord (or their agent) to hold current landlord accreditation
• Covers houses, flats and bungalows let to tenants who aren't already covered by an HMO licence

Apply for this licence →

Additional HMO licensing

Coverage. City-wide — smaller HMOs (3–4 occupiers, 2+ households) and section 257 HMOs, in addition to Oxford's separate selective licensing scheme.

Dates. In force from 25 June 2026. Runs until 25 June 2031. This is a new designation replacing one that ran 10 June 2021 – 9 June 2026; the council states licences stayed in force through the short gap between schemes.

Fee. Fees follow the same two-stage schedule as Oxford's other HMO licences rather than a single separate "additional licensing" figure — contact the council or check its current HMO fees page for the exact amount applicable to your property.

• Applies in addition to mandatory HMO licensing, which continues to cover larger Oxford HMOs city-wide

Apply for this licence →

What happens if you let unlicensed

Operating a licensable property without the required licence is a criminal offence. For an HMO, that's section 72 of the Housing Act 2004; for a selective-licensing property, it's section 95. Both carry an unlimited fine on conviction, or a civil penalty of up to £40,000 as an alternative to prosecution, under section 249A of the Housing Act 2004 (raised from £30,000 with effect from 1 May 2026).

On top of a civil penalty, a tenant or the local authority can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order — for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, this can require repayment of up to 24 months' rent, under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Part 2, Chapter 4) as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. A civil penalty and a rent repayment order can both be awarded for the same unlicensed period, so the combined exposure for a persistently unlicensed property can run well into six figures. See our full rent repayment orders guide for how the tribunal process works and how to defend against an application.

An unlicensed HMO or selective-licensing property can also affect a landlord's enforcement position, and the council can apply for a management order over a persistently unlicensed property, taking day-to-day control away from the landlord.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a licence from a different scheme covers you. Mandatory HMO licensing, additional HMO licensing and selective licensing are three separate legal regimes — a property can need more than one, or a licence under one scheme doesn't excuse a requirement under another.
• Letting a licence lapse. Renewal isn't automatic; operating on an expired licence is treated the same as never having had one.
• Assuming a designation still applies without checking. These schemes are frequently renewed, expanded, or allowed to lapse — always check the council's current page rather than relying on older news coverage or a previous tenancy's paperwork.
• Missing a scheme because a property is just outside the mandatory HMO threshold. Additional and selective licensing exist precisely to bring smaller HMOs and ordinary lettings into scope.

Get help

• Oxford's own private housing or licensing team — for an address-specific check, an application, or to confirm a scheme's current status: Oxford City Council — Selective licensing, Oxford City Council — Selective licensing fees and charges, Oxford City Council — Additional licensing scheme.
• GOV.UK — HMO licence guidance and selective licensing guidance for local authorities for the primary legal framework.

This is legal information, not legal advice. It explains the position for Oxford as at 3 August 2026 in general terms and does not take account of your specific circumstances; reading it does not create a solicitor–client relationship. Tenancy Agreement Service is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Licensing schemes change frequently — always confirm current designation, dates and fees directly with the council before applying. If you're facing a licensing dispute, a civil penalty notice, or a rent repayment order application, get advice from a regulated solicitor before responding.