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Selective licensing in England

Do I need a landlord licence in Oxford?

Oxford's selective licensing scheme covers the whole city. Here's who needs a licence and what to have ready.

Checked on 2 November 2026 against Oxford City Council's own pages.

Watercolour of a red brick terrace with a licence document and a set of keys on the front wall

The scheme at a glance

  • Runs from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027.
  • Covers every privately rented home in the city that isn't an HMO, including homes let to a single person or a single family.
  • Licences usually last five years from the date they're issued.
  • From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 the council lists a standard new licence at £853 and an accredited licence at £612. A higher rate applies if a home has been licensable for more than 12 weeks without an application.
  • You can apply up to 4 weeks before a tenancy starts.

Checked on 2 November 2026. Always confirm on Oxford City Council's own page.

Sources: Designation and public notice, Selective licensing fees and charges.

What to have ready

Gas safety certificate, electrical safety report (EICR), EPC, working smoke alarms on each floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (not a gas cooker), plus tenancy details. If you've just bought or let the home, keep evidence of the date, as the council uses it to set the fee.

After you're licensed

Put your licence end date next to your certificate dates. The free MTD deadline calendar adds your tax dates too.

Example Padlord property card showing licence, gas safety, EICR and EPC expiry dates.

Larger shared homes (HMOs)

A home let to five or more people from two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet needs a mandatory HMO licence, everywhere in England. That is separate from selective licensing. Our guide Do I need a landlord licence? walks through every type.

Licensing in Oxford: the short answer

Do I need a landlord licence in Oxford?

If you let a home in Oxford that isn't an HMO, it needs a selective licence unless it's exempt. The city-wide scheme runs from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027 and includes homes let to a single person or a single family. HMOs need an HMO licence instead.

Track your licence, certificates and rent in one place.

Padlord keeps each property's licence end date beside its gas safety, EICR and EPC dates, with your rent and costs alongside.

Start freeGet the free MTD deadline calendar

Not legal advice. Facts from Oxford City Council's selective licensing pages, linked above.