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For landlordsLetting a property in South Oxfordshire: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in South Oxfordshire.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in South Oxfordshire
- Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council says it does not run any additional or selective licensing schemes.
- Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people who are not all one household need a mandatory licence for five years. HMOs for more than six people also need planning permission.
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: South Oxfordshire District Council.
South Oxfordshire District 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 South Oxfordshire 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 South Oxfordshire homes
- New-build homes in Didcot's new estates: photograph snagging items, sealant, paintwork and the garden, and note any estate management charge areas.
- Brick and flint cottages in the Chilterns villages: photograph walls inside for damp, beams, low doorways and the condition of any wood burner.
- Riverside homes in Henley, Wallingford and Goring: check ground floors, cellars and gardens for signs of past flooding from the Thames.
- Rural homes off the gas grid: record the oil tank and gauge level or LPG tank, and any septic tank or treatment plant cover.
- Larger detached houses: record the garden, hedges, gates, garages and outbuildings, and agree what upkeep the tenant is expected to do.
Homes sold in South Oxfordshire in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 433 | £474,042 |
| Detached | 420 | £780,089 |
| Terraced | 300 | £414,978 |
| Flat or maisonette | 148 | £296,679 |
| Other | 53 | £923,467 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in South Oxfordshire: questions
Is there selective licensing in South Oxfordshire?
No selective licensing scheme: the council says it does not run any additional or selective licensing schemes. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in South Oxfordshire?
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 South Oxfordshire?
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.
Ready when you have the keys
Do your South Oxfordshire check-in yourself, on your phone, for £30.
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