Greater Manchester · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Oldham
✓ Hand-verified 21 Aug 2026Oldham operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
One payment.
| Each bedroom | £35.60 |
Oldham — oldham.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Oldham has operated selective licensing since 2015. The current scheme was introduced in July 2022 (renewed from the original 2014/15 scheme following consultation) and runs for five years. Requires all privately rented properties within the designated area to hold a licence. Property must be reasonably suitable for occupation and the licence holder must be a fit and proper person. A separate borough-wide non-immediate Article 4 Direction (planning control, removing permitted development rights for small HMO conversions) was consulted on October-November 2025 and was due to come into force on 1 January 2026 - this is separate from licensing.
Areas: Phase 1: five designated areas within the wards of Medlock Vale, St Mary's, Werneth, Waterhead, Alexandra, Chadderton South and Hollinwood, covering roughly 1,800 privately rented homes. Designation is by street rather than by whole ward, so check the council's street list or map for your exact address.
One payment.
| Each licence | £582 |
Oldham — oldham.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Scheme runs until: 31 July 2027
Oldham operates no additional HMO licensing scheme under s.56. The council's HMO page requires a licence where "Five or more people live there, There are two or more households who are not related, and They share facilities", and adds "Even if your HMO does not meet these criteria, you may still need a licence if it is in a Selective Licensing area" - an enumeration of mandatory plus selective only. No s.56 designation, notice or consultation appears on oldham.gov.uk. Oldham's proposed Article 4 Direction is planning control, never licensing. The selective phases remain as recorded. Distinguished from Manchester, Rochdale, Tameside and Bury. Established 21 Aug 2026.
Common questions
Does Oldham have a selective licensing scheme?
Yes. Oldham operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a property covered by it without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
Does Oldham have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Oldham does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in Oldham?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Oldham, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
Selective licensing in Oldham: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in Greater Manchester →
Source: Oldham licensing page →
Every landlord in Oldham also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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