City-wide selective licensing scheme set to start in Oxford in September

A city-wide selective licensing scheme will come into force in Oxford on 1st September 2022.

The new scheme will make it a requirement for all privately rented homes in the city to have a licence, to operate lawfully.

Currently, only houses in multiple occupation – shared houses – require a licence to operate, and the council estimates that half (49.3%) of all Oxford’s homes are now privately rented.

As with all proposed large licensing schemes, Oxford City Council required permission from the Secretary of State in order to go ahead with the scheme.

Apply for a licence now

Landlords can apply for a licence directly on the council’s website.

According to Oxford City Council, a five-year licence will cost £480. Landlords who make a completed application before 30th November 2022 can qualify for the early-bird discount, which is £400.

There is also a discount for accredited landlords, more information on this can be read on the council’s webpages here.

NRLA licensing support for members

The NRLA aims to respond to all local property licensing consultations. We also encourage landlords to respond to consultations in their area, and we have developed a toolkit for NRLA members, containing information on how to do this.  

Members can also keep up to date with current licensing schemes, regulations and consultations by using NRLA Licensing Support, powered by Kamma Data.