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).
Information information to read before submitting your application
Please read all the following information before submitting your application:
- HMO Licence applications can only be submitted up to 4 weeks before the tenancy start date
- If the property is 'Newly Licensable' (or new owner), please ensure you have supplied signed tenancy agreements / proof of ownership showing that the tenancy / ownership began within 12 weeks of the application date or you will be charged the higher fee
- Application fees can only be paid online by card. In exceptional circumstances payment can be made via BACs transfer. If you cannot pay online, please call us on 01865252307.
- You must add the 'Interested Parties' separately even if the property is jointly owned. It is possible to add more than one freeholder/leaseholder etc. to your application
- All parties listed must have unique emails as we must contact each interested party individually. If a person does not have an email or has a duplicate email, then we will post the information. However, we prefer an email as this is more environmentally friendly and quicker
If any of the above issues are found, this may cause delays in processing your application.
Licence fees
These are the licence fees by category.
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.
Fee from 1 April 2024:
- Stage 1: £340
- Stage 2: £2,300
- Total: £2,640
Fee from 1 April 2025:
- Stage 1: £370
- Stage 2: £2,530
- Total: £2,900
Category B
Standard New Application - New application for a one-year* licence where:
- The HMO was acquired and/or began operating as an HMO within the previous 12 weeks; or
- 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
- 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.
Fee from 1 April 2024:
- Stage 1: £340
- Stage 2: £370
- Total: £710
Fee from 1 April 2025:
- Stage 1: £370
- Stage 2: £410
- Total: £780
Category C
Standard Renewal - Annual renewal where there are no management concerns or outstanding conditions and the licence holder is not an Accredited Landlord:
Fee from 1 April 2024:
- Stage 1: £108
- Stage 2: £216
- Total: £324
Fee from 1 April 2025:
- Stage 1: £118
- Stage 2: £238
- Total: £356
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:
Fee from 1 April 2024:
- Stage 1: £108
- Stage 2: £507
- Total: £615
Fee from 1 April 2025:
- Stage 1: £118
- Stage 2: £558
- Total: £676
Category E
Two year licence renewal where all two-year licence criteria are met.
Fee from 1 April 2024:
- Stage 1: £108
- Stage 2: £248
- Total: £356
Fee from 1 April 2025:
- Stage 1: £118
- Stage 2: £274
- Total: £392
Category F
Five year licence renewal where all five year licence criteria are met.
Fee from 1 April 2024:
- Stage 1: £108
- Stage 2: £397
- Total: £505
Fee from 1 April 2025:
- Stage 1: £118
- Stage 2: £436
- Total: £554
Charges for other services
|
Description |
2024-25 Fee | 2025-26 Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
HMO licensing advice (per visit) |
£232 | £255 |
| Surcharge for provision of paper application form - new HMO licence | £259 | £285 |
| Surcharge for provision of paper application form - renewal HMO licence | £216 | £238 |
We no longer offer a service assisting tenants to apply for Rent Repayment Order (RRO) - contact Justice for Tenants on oxfordrro@justicefortenants.org.
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.
|
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 HallSt Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1BX
