South East
HMO licensing in Oxford
Oxford City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £858 (£392 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £858
Renewal £392
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Oxford
Oxford's renewed city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme (3-4 occupier HMOs and all HMO self-contained flats that are not mandatory-licensable) came into force on 25 June 2026 and runs for five years to 24 June 2031. The renewal consultation ran 11 Nov 2025 to 1 Feb 2026 and Cabinet approved the renewal on 18 March 2026.
- In force from
- 25 June 2026
- Scheme ends
- 24 June 2031
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £858, and £392 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Category B 'Standard New Application' (new one-year licence where HMO acquired/began operating as HMO within previous 12 weeks, or licence expired and new application within 12 weeks, or change of licence holder): Stage 1 £407 (with application) + Stage 2 £451 (on notice of intention to grant). Fee from 1 April 2026. Renewal: Category C 'Standard Renewal' (annual, no management concerns, not an accredited landlord) £130 + £262 = £392. Higher-rate new application (Category A, HMO operating unlicensed >12 weeks) £407 + £2,783 = £3,190.
Fee source: oxford.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
£858
Renewal £392
Category B standard new HMO licence application (one-year licence by default) from 1 April 2026, paid in two stages (Stage 1 £407 + Stage 2 £451); the same HMO fee table applies to additional-licensing HMOs (3 or 4 tenants) and mandatory HMOs
Category A higher-rate new application (HMO operating unlicensed for more than 12 weeks) is £3,190 (£407 + £2,783). Standard annual renewal (Category C) is £392 (£130 + £262); higher-rate renewal £744; two-year renewal £432 and five-year renewal £610 where criteria are met; the standard renewal fee applies where the licence holder is not an accredited landlord. Longer licences may be available where criteria are met.
Scheme: From 25 June 2026
Checked 2 October 2026 against oxford.gov.uk
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Oxford City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.