How Long Does an Oxford Landlord Licence Last? Duration and Renewal Timing

Selective Licence Duration

Standard selective licences in Oxford are granted for five years from the date of issue, not from the start of the designation scheme. The current selective licensing scheme runs from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027, so a licence issued during the scheme can continue beyond the designation's end.

The £210 one-year selective renewal applies to an existing one-year licence issued because of previous compliance concerns. If the scheme is renewed beyond August 2027, renewal terms would follow the new designation period.

A one-year selective licence may be issued where there are serious concerns about the proposed licence holder, management arrangements, or licence conditions.

HMO Licence Duration

HMO licensing works differently. New HMO licences are granted for one year by default. This applies to both additional and mandatory HMO licences.

One year is the default term for a new HMO licence. The council may grant a longer term in limited cases when the relevant criteria and supporting documents are provided.

At renewal, the council scores your compliance record and grants one of three durations:

• 1-year renewal (£392 in 2026/27): the standard annual renewal where there are no management concerns or outstanding conditions and the licence holder is not accredited. If concerns require a re-inspection or audit, the higher-rate annual renewal is £744.
• 2-year earned renewal (£432): granted to landlords with good compliance history, all safety certificates current, and accredited management
• 5-year earned renewal (£610): the maximum, awarded to exemplary properties with continuous accreditation, no outstanding works, and a spotless management history

The earned renewal criteria are strict. The accredited person must hold full management control of the property, and there must be no compliance concerns across the previous licence term.

The Cost Maths Over Time

A 5-year earned HMO renewal costs £610 total. Five consecutive 1-year renewals at £392 each cost £1,960. That's a £1,350 saving over five years for maintaining high standards.

Even the 2-year renewal saves money: two cycles (four years) cost £864 versus £1,568 for four annual renewals.

The financial incentive is designed to reward compliant landlords and reduce the council's administrative workload. It also means the council concentrates its inspection resources on problem properties rather than spreading them across every HMO annually.

When to Start the Renewal Process

Start your renewal at least eight weeks before your licence expires. The council's processing time varies, but submitting early ensures your renewal application is in the system before the expiry date.

If you do not submit a valid renewal application before expiry, you lose renewal-fee status and the council treats a later application as a new application. For HMO licences, a new application received within 12 weeks of expiry costs £858 in 2026/27; if the licence has been expired for more than 12 weeks, the higher-rate fee is £3,190. The 12-week period runs from the expiry date, not from when you noticed it had expired.

Set a calendar reminder for three months before expiry. That gives you time to renew safety certificates (gas, EICR) if any are due to lapse around the same time, assemble the renewal evidence pack, and submit the application with margin to spare.

Our Oxford Landlord Licensing Guide includes a renewal timeline template that tracks your licence expiry alongside safety certificate renewal dates, so nothing slips through the gap.

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