What licensing schemes does Oldham operate?

Oldham Council operates selective licensing in 11 wards from 4 July 2022 to 3 July 2027. Mandatory HMO licensing also applies in Oldham to HMOs of five or more people. Oldham has no additional HMO licensing scheme.

Do all properties in Oldham need a licence?

Not every Oldham property needs a licence. Most privately rented homes in the 11 selective licensing wards need one until 3 July 2027. Elsewhere in Oldham, only HMOs of five or more people need a mandatory HMO licence.

What if my property doesn't have a licence?

Letting a property in Oldham without a required licence can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.

Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?

Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Oldham. Many agents manage the full application process for the landlords they act for.

How do I apply for a Oldham property licence?

Oldham Council takes licence applications through its website. Start from the council's selective licensing page ( licensing pages ), or use a managed service such as Kamma.

Why did Oldham introduce selective licensing?

Oldham Council decided, after a review and consultation, to continue selective licensing in specific parts of the borough. Council papers describe the targeted areas as ones with low housing demand.

Why did Oldham introduce additional licensing?

Oldham does not operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Kamma's records list only selective licensing and the national mandatory HMO scheme for Oldham.

What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Oldham?

Oldham Council's HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management ( licence conditions ).

SELECTIVE LICENSING · LIVE

Oldham Property Licensing: Do You Need a Licence?

Oldham operates selective licensing alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Most privately rented homes in the selective licensing wards need a licence.

Check your portfolio for risk

Map of property licensing by ward in Oldham. Selective licensing in 11 of the 20 wards applies now. The remaining wards have mandatory HMO licensing only, which applies nationally to larger shared homes.

Selective licensing now

Mandatory HMO licensing only (national scheme)

Part of ward only

Oldham Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement

Councils are using data to identify unlicensed properties, and agents who manage them can be fined in their own right

Up to £40k fine per unlicensed property

Rent Repayment Orders up to 24 months

£7,800 average fine for letting agents

Most enforcement activity happens within the first 3–6 months of scheme launch.

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Property Licensing Guide for Oldham

Oldham currently operates selective licensing in 11 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.

This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.

New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?

Oldham is in the North West registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 May 2027: see what the PRS database means for landlords and agents in the North West.

Oldham Property Licensing Schemes

To check whether an Oldham property is licensed, ask Oldham Council to inspect its public register of licensed properties, by appointment. Kamma’s free checker shows which scheme covers an address.

Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.

Not sure whether an Oldham property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.

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What are the licensing requirements for Oldham?

Mandatory licensing in Oldham

Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Oldham (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:

Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.

Do I need an additional property licence in Oldham?

Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.

Oldham does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme; larger HMOs are covered by the national mandatory HMO scheme.

Do I need a selective licence in Oldham?

Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.

Oldham operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.

Selective licensing: 4 July 2022 to 3 July 2027, covering Alexandra, Chadderton South, Coldhurst, Failsworth East, Hollinwood, Medlock Vale, Saddleworth West & Lees, St James’, St Mary’s, Waterhead and Werneth.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.

How do I apply for a licence?

You can apply for a licence via Oldham Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.

How much does a licence cost?

Licence fees

Licence	Fee
Selective licence	£582 per property
Mandatory HMO licence	£834 (Application (up to 5 bedrooms))

Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.

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Oldham Property Licensing FAQs

What licensing schemes does Oldham operate?
Oldham Council operates selective licensing in 11 wards from 4 July 2022 to 3 July 2027. Mandatory HMO licensing also applies in Oldham to HMOs of five or more people. Oldham has no additional HMO licensing scheme.
Do all properties in Oldham need a licence?
Not every Oldham property needs a licence. Most privately rented homes in the 11 selective licensing wards need one until 3 July 2027. Elsewhere in Oldham, only HMOs of five or more people need a mandatory HMO licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Letting a property in Oldham without a required licence can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Oldham. Many agents manage the full application process for the landlords they act for.
How do I apply for a Oldham property licence?
Oldham Council takes licence applications through its website. Start from the council’s selective licensing page (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Oldham introduce selective licensing?
Oldham Council decided, after a review and consultation, to continue selective licensing in specific parts of the borough. Council papers describe the targeted areas as ones with low housing demand.
Why did Oldham introduce additional licensing?
Oldham does not operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Kamma’s records list only selective licensing and the national mandatory HMO scheme for Oldham.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Oldham?
Oldham Council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (licence conditions).

About Oldham

Oldham is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester with 20 wards. Selective licensing covers 11 of them, listed above. The council decided after a review and consultation to continue the scheme in specific parts of the borough. It publishes a map and street list of designated areas, and keeps a public register of licensed properties.

Licensing Enforcement in Oldham

Oldham Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.