HMO licence fees and charges

The tables below give the fees for the HMO licensing scheme and the refund policy.

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.

Fees

Fees are charged by financial year.

Table showing HMO licence fees
Category	Description	2022/23 Fee
A	Higher Rate New Application - New application for a one-year licence where the HMO has been operating unlicensed for more than 12 weeks. For 2022/23 onwards, this includes where the previous licence expired over 12 weeks ago.	Stage 1; £286 Stage 2: £1,834 Total: £2,120
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 - please see our website pages regarding 2 year and 5 year licence criteria.	Stage 1: £286 Stage 2: £288 Total: £574
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: £92 Stage 2: £182 Total: £274
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: £92 Stage 2: £428 Total: £520
E	Two year licence renewal where all two-year licence criteria are met	Stage 1: £92 Stage 2: £210 Total: £302
F	Five year licence renewal where all five year licence criteria are met	Stage 1: £92 Stage 2: £334 Total: £426

Charges for other services

The financial charges for other services associated with HMO licensing are shown below.

HMO fees - optional charges for other services
Description	2022/23 Fee
Fire Risk Assessment provided by our Building Control Service	£330
HMO licensing advice (per visit)	£201
Assisting tenant to apply for Rent Repayment Order (RRO)	POA

Refunds

The licensing fees are set to recover the costs of the licensing scheme as a whole. Refunds are only made as listed below. Refunds will be made to the card used for the payment.

The retained amount covers the costs incurred by the Council.

Refund Policy

Table showing HMO refunds 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

Fees

Charges for other services

Refunds

Refund Policy

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