Oxford city council - which already imposes some of the strictest rules in the country on HMOs - has rejected a proposal to set up its own letting agency.
A Green Party councillor proposed the agency idea because it would be a way of driving up standards and leading by example. But councillors decided not to emulate a similar move by Brent Council in London.
Compulsory local licensing of all HMOs was introduced by the council in 2012, obliging landlords or their agents renting a property to groups of three or more to licenced, undergo regular inspections and pay a fee of £362 or more.
The council has now started a roadshow at locations around the city, consulting on proposed increases in HMO charges to as much as £699 for an initial application and up to £350 for a renewal application.
Property consultancy CBRE says 28.2 per cent of all Oxford households rent privately, paying an average of £1,175 pcm for a city centre flat.
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