HMO Licence Fees 2020-2021
If your property is occupied as an HMO then you must make an application for an HMO licence immediately. Under the Housing Act 2004 s72(1), it is an offence to fail to licence an HMO. Although our fee structure will give a lower fee if your application is made promptly, this does not provide an excuse for failing to make an application.
Following a legal case brought by a landlord (Gaskin) against London Borough of Richmond, the Council were obliged to review the HMO licensing fees. The Court of Appeal decision means that the Council must offer a 2 stage fee and as such the costs of the licences have risen.
- Stage 1 must be paid when you make the application for the application process costs.
- Stage 2 must be paid when you are sent the “notice of intention to grant a licence”. Stage 2 fee must be paid within 14 days of this notice. If you have applied for a two or five year renewal, if payment is not made within 14 days of the request then you will automatically be issued with a one year licence.
Your application is not “duly made” until both fees are paid and your licence will not be issued.
The case also clarified that the costs of operating and enforcing the scheme can be charged as part of the licence fee. Previous to this the Council did not charge for the enforcement of the HMO licensing scheme (the operating costs were included in the fees). These costs are the Stage 2 payment.
|
Category |
Application type |
2020/2021 fees |
|---|---|---|
|
A |
Higher Rate New Application - New application for a one-year licence where the HMO has been operating unlicensed for more than 12 weeks |
Stage 1 £1133 Stage 2 £865 Total £1998 |
|
B |
Standard New Application - |
Stage 1 £314 Stage 2 £227 Total £541 |
|
C |
Standard Renewal - Annual renewal where there are no management concerns or outstanding conditions and the licence holder is not an Oxford City Council Accredited Landlord |
Stage 1 £196 Stage 2 £62 Total £258 |
|
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 £268 Stage 2 £222 Total £490 |
|
E |
Two-year Renewal -Licence renewal for 2 years where all two-year licence criteria are met |
Stage 1 £196 Stage 2 £88 Total £284 |
|
F |
Five year licence - Oxford City Council Accredited Landlords only - licence for five or more tenants( falls under the mandatory licence national legal requirement) - must meet all eligibility criteria |
Stage 1 £196 Stage 2 £211 Total £407 |
Optional charges for other services
|
Category |
Service type |
2020/2021 fees |
|---|---|---|
|
G |
Fire Risk Assessment provided by our Building Control Service |
320 |
|
H |
HMO licensing advice (per visit) |
167 |
| n/a |
Assisting tenant to apply for Rent Repayment Order (RRO) |
10% of rent awarded by FtT |
Refunds
The licensing fees are set to recover the administrative and inspection costs. Refunds are only made as listed below. Refunds will be made to the card used for the payment.
|
Circumstances of refund request |
Amount refunded (2020/2021) |
|---|---|
|
Stage One payment – Before inspection of the house The retained amount covers the Council's preliminary administrative costs |
Stage one fee less £109 |
|
Stage One payment – After inspection completed The retained amount covers the Council's application costs |
Stage one payment – nil |
|
Stage Two – After the intention notice The retained amount covers the Council's ongoing costs |
Stage one payment – nil Any stage two payment – full refund |
|
Stage Two - over payment The difference will be refunded. (i.e. a landlord pays for a two year licence and is issued a one year licence, the difference in fees is refunded) |
Stage Two - difference refunded |
|
Revocation of licence once the decision notice has been issued Once a licence has been issued, it cannot be withdrawn. The licence holder must ask for the licence to be revoked. The retained amount covers the Council’s ongoing costs. |
Stage one payment – nil Stage two payment - nil |
|
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 |
