Additional HMO licensing in Oxford
Yes. Oxford operates an additional HMO 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 an additional HMO licence in Oxford?
Yes. Oxford operates an additional HMO 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 Oxford does the scheme cover?
City-wide - all HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants forming 2 or more households. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Oxford's scheme end?
The designation runs until 24 June 2031, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£825. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Oxford before budgeting.
One payment.
Oxford, read 30 August 2026
What the designation says
Oxford City Council operates a citywide additional HMO licensing scheme. The current designation is a renewal: the council's own page states "The designation made in 2021 continues to remain operative until 9 June 2026" and "This designation comes into force on 25 June 2026 and will last for five years." It therefore runs to 24 June 2031. Designated under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004, it covers the whole city and applies to houses in multiple occupation with three or more people in two or more households that fall outside the national mandatory regime. Source: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/houses-multiple-occupation-hmos/additional-licensing-scheme Checked 2026-08-06. A licence must be in place before the property is let. Letting unlicensed in a designated area risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026; possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. The £40,000 ceiling applies to offences committed on or after 1 May 2026; the £30,000 ceiling still applies to offences committed before that date.
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 Oxford before letting.