Oxford City Council’s Selective Licensing scheme is continuing to drive up standards in the private rented sector, with new figures showing strong progress in its third year of operation.
The scheme, which requires all private rented homes in Oxford to meet high standards and be managed by a “fit and proper person”, is designed to improve housing conditions, ensure homes are safe and well managed, and create a more consistent standard across the private rented sector.
Since launching, the scheme has now brought more than 14,500 properties under licence, helping to protect thousands of tenants across Oxford.
Oxford is one of the only councils in the country requiring a licence for all private rented homes.
Driving up standards for tenants
More than 1,000 proactive inspections have been carried out since the scheme began, identifying serious issues in a significant number of properties. Around one in three homes (31%) inspected were found to have Category 1 hazards – the most serious risks to health and safety – under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
This highlights the importance of the scheme in identifying and addressing poor housing conditions, ensuring tenants have safe, secure places to live.
Taking action against non-compliance
Enforcement activity has increased as the scheme has matured, with a significant rise in formal action against landlords who fail to meet required standards.
The number of enforcement notices issued has grown by 35% compared to the first year of the scheme, and the Council has stepped up investigations into unlicensed properties. Financial penalties have also been issued to landlords who failed to licence their properties. Four financial penalties for failing to licence were issued this year.
This robust approach ensures a level playing field for responsible landlords while protecting tenants from unsafe or poorly managed homes.
National recognition
Oxford’s selective licensing scheme continues to attract national attention, with other councils seeking advice on developing similar approaches.
The Council has also been selected by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help trial the new landlord database under the Renters’ Rights Act, reflecting Oxford’s role as a leader in improving standards in the private rented sector.
Strong performance and faster processing
The Council has also improved how quickly applications are processed.
In the past year, over 96% of licence applications were processed within 12 weeks, with an average turnaround time of just over six weeks. Overall, nearly all applications received since the scheme began have now been processed to draft licence stage, withdrawn, or refused.
Renting in Oxford
The Council’s selective licensing scheme sits alongside the licensing requirement for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs or shared houses).
Tenants can find out whether their home is licensed on the register of selective licences. There is a separate register for shared housing.
Tenants living in an unlicensed home can apply to a First Tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order (RRO). This allows them to claim back up to a year’s rent from their landlord for any period the home they live in is unlicensed.
However, licences are not published on the register until they are issued and it does not include pending applications. Any tenant living in a home not on either register should email propertylicensing@oxford.gov.uk for further information and advice.
Comment
“Everyone in Oxford deserves a safe, well-managed home, and our Selective Licensing scheme is helping us make that a reality for thousands of private renters across the city. These figures show both the scale of the challenge and the progress we are making – from identifying serious hazards to taking action against landlords who fail to meet their responsibilities.
We are committed to driving up standards across the private rented sector, supporting good landlords, taking a zero-tolerance approach to rogue landlords, and taking robust enforcement action where it’s needed to protect tenants and improve homes.”Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Oxford City Council
