DIY InventoryLetting a property in Oldham: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Oldham.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Oldham
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing in five designated areas covering parts of Alexandra, St Mary's, St James', Waterhead, Coldhurst, Werneth, Chadderton South, Hollinwood and Medlock Vale wards, from 4 July 2022 to 3 July 2027; the council's maps show the streets included. A wider scheme covering about 40% of the borough was consulted on in 2024; we could not confirm a decision.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies.
- Fees: £582 per selective licence, as stated on the council's site
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Oldham Council.
Oldham Council: private renting and licensing
Safety certificates
- Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
- EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
- Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Oldham at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.
Deposits and the inventory
Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.
What to record in Oldham homes
- Terraces inside the selective licensing areas: note the licence number and photograph smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, which are licence conditions.
- Victorian terraces in Coldhurst, Werneth and Glodwick: photograph damp at the base of walls, cellar heads, back yards and alley gates.
- Stone cottages in Saddleworth: photograph damp in thick walls, stoves and chimneys, and window frames exposed to Pennine weather.
- Flats over shops in the town centre: record the separate entrance, stairs, fire doors and where the meters are.
- Hillside terraces in Lees and Shaw: photograph steps, retaining walls, gutters and any damp in back rooms built into the slope.
Homes sold in Oldham in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 926 | £170,409 |
| Semi-detached | 606 | £247,116 |
| Detached | 254 | £409,837 |
| Other | 95 | £299,932 |
| Flat or maisonette | 64 | £146,583 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Oldham: questions
Is there selective licensing in Oldham?
Selective licensing in five designated areas covering parts of Alexandra, St Mary's, St James', Waterhead, Coldhurst, Werneth, Chadderton South, Hollinwood and Medlock Vale wards, from 4 July 2022 to 3 July 2027; the council's maps show the streets included. A wider scheme covering about 40% of the borough was consulted on in 2024; we could not confirm a decision. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Oldham?
A Gas Safety certificate every 12 months (where there is gas), an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, and a valid EPC rated E or above, plus working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances.
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits, with the prescribed information given to the tenant in the same 30 days.
Do I need an inventory as a landlord in Oldham?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but without a signed check-in record it is very hard to claim anything from the deposit at the end. With DIY Inventory you can do it yourself for £30, or send your tenant a link to do it.