Following a legal case brought by a landlord (Gaskin) against London Borough of Richmond, the Council are obliged to request fees in two stages:

  • Stage 1 must be paid when you make the application. The stage 1 fee can only cover costs associated with the application process costs. Oxford City Council has calculated the average costs associated with processing the application up to and including the issue of intention to grant a licence (or refuse to grant a licence).
  • Stage 2 must be paid when you are sent the “notice of intention to grant a licence”. The stage 2 fee covers ongoing scheme application, operation of the scheme and enforcement costs. Oxford City Council has calculated the average costs associated with ongoing operation and enforcement of the scheme.

Your application is not “duly made” until both fees are paid. Your licence will not be issued until stage 2 fee is paid.

If you have applied for a two or five year renewal, the Stage 2 fee must be paid within the time requested. If payment is not made within the requested time, you will automatically be issued with a one year licence (and any overpayment will be refunded).

For 2021/22 we are planning for an improved online application system. This has meant that some of the costs associated with processing the higher new application and renewal application fee categories have been moved into the stage 2 fee payment.

Licence fees

These are the licence fees, by category, for the financial year 2023 to 2024.

Category A

Higher Rate New Application - New application for a one-year licence where the HMO has been operating unlicensed for more than 12 weeks. 

This includes where the previous licence expired over 12 weeks ago.

  • Stage 1: £315
  • Stage 2: £2,015
  • Total: £2,330

Fee from 1 April 2024:

  • Stage 1: £340
  • Stage 2: £2,300
  • Total: £2,640

Category B

Standard New Application - New application for a one-year* licence where:
i) The HMO was acquired and/or began operating as an HMO within the previous 12 weeks; or
ii) The licence expired before a valid renewal application was completed; and for 2022/23 onwards an application for a new licence was received within 12 weeks of the previous licence expiry
iii) Change of existing licence holder.
*May be eligible for longer licence in cases of  i) or iii) if Licence Holder holds other HMO licences with us and all evidence and documentation regarding meeting the criteria for a longer licence are supplied within 2 weeks of the date of submission of the application form.

  • Stage 1: £315
  • Stage 2: £320
  • Total: £635

Fee from 1 April 2024:

  • Stage 1: £340
  • Stage 2: £370
  • Total: £710

Category C

Standard Renewal - Annual renewal where there are no management concerns or outstanding conditions and the licence holder is not an Accredited Landlord

  • Stage 1: £100
  • Stage 2: £200
  • Total: £300

Fee from 1 April 2024:

  • Stage 1: £108
  • Stage 2: £216
  • Total: £324

Category D

Higher Rate Renewal - Annual renewal where there are management concerns, non-compliance issues or other reasons that re-inspection or audit is required

  • Stage 1: £100
  • Stage 2: £470
  • Total: £570

Fee from 1 April 2024:

  • Stage 1: £108
  • Stage 2: £507
  • Total: £615

Category E

Two year licence renewal where all two-year licence criteria are met.

  • Stage 1: £100
  • Stage 2: £230
  • Total: £330

Fee from 1 April 2024:

  • Stage 1: £108
  • Stage 2: £248
  • Total: £356

Category F

Five year licence renewal where all five year licence criteria are met.

  • Stage 1: £100
  • Stage 2: £365
  • Total: £465

Fee from 1 April 2024:

  • Stage 1: £108
  • Stage 2: £397
  • Total: £505

Charges for other services

Table showing the financial charges for other services associated with HMO licensing

Description

2023/24 Fee 2024/25 Fee

HMO licensing advice (per visit)

£215 £232
Surcharge for provision of paper application form - new HMO licence £240 £259
Surcharge for provision of paper application form - renewal HMO licence £200 £216

Assisting tenant to apply for Rent Repayment Order (RRO)

POA POA

HMO refund policy

The licensing fees are set to recover the costs of the licensing scheme as a whole. Refunds are only made as shown and to the card used for the payment. The retained amount covers the costs incurred by the Council.

Table showing the HMO refund policy

Application Type

Circumstance

Refund amount

New or Renewal application:

Property was not an HMO at the time the application was made and has not been occupied as an HMO

Only where  a landlord can demonstrate that the property has never been occupied as an HMO

Stage one payment – full refund

Stage two payment – full refund

New application:

Property has ceased to be an HMO since application was made. Inspection not yet undertaken

Stage one payment –  amount paid minus £116

New application:

Property has ceased to be an HMO since application was made. Inspection completed and intention notice not yet issued

Stage one payment – no refund

New application:

Property has ceased to be an HMO since application was made. Intention notice issued however decision notice not yet issued

Stage one payment – no refund

Stage two payment – no refund

Renewal application:

Property has ceased to be an HMO since application was made. Intention notice not yet issued

Stage one payment –  amount paid minus £50

Renewal application:

Property has ceased to be an HMO since application was made. Intention notice issued however decision notice not yet issued

Stage one payment – no refund

Stage two payment – full refund

New or renewal application

Intention notice issued. Stage two not paid. Application withdrawn by Council.

Stage one payment – no refund

Revocation of licence (new or renewal licence)

After decision notice is issued

Stage one payment – no refund

Stage two payment – no refund

Overpayment of fees

Where a landlord has overpaid fees, the difference will be refunded i.e. landlord pays for a two year licence and is granted a one year licence

Stage two payment – difference refunded

More information and related content

Contact the HMO Licensing team

Address: Town Hall
St Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1BX

Telephone: 01865 252307

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