A Labour controlled council claims its city-wide Selective Licensing scheme is “continuing to drive up standards in the private rented sector.”

Since launching three years ago the scheme has brought more than 14,500 properties in Oxford under licence. 

It’s one of the only councils in the country requiring a licence for all private rented homes.

More than 1,000 proactive inspections have been carried out since the scheme began.

The council claims 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).

The number of enforcement notices issued has grown by 35% compared to the first year of the scheme, and the council says it has stepped up investigations into unlicensed properties. 

Four financial penalties for failing to licence were issued in the past year.

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.

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Overall, nearly all applications received since the scheme began have now been processed to draft licence stage, withdrawn, or refused.