Selective licensing in Oldham
Yes. Oldham operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need a selective licence in Oldham?
Yes. Oldham operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Oldham does the scheme cover?
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.. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Oldham's scheme end?
The designation runs until 31 July 2027, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£340.34. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Oldham before budgeting.
One payment.
| Each licence | £582 |
Oldham — oldham.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
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.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Oldham before letting.