London · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Croydon
Croydon operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Croydon sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
Croydon Council designated a new selective licensing scheme on 25 March 2026. It comes into force on 1 September 2026 and runs for five years. It covers privately rented properties let to a single household in 14 of the borough's 28 wards, around 72.5% of the local private rented sector. A licence must be held before the property is let from that date. Check whether a specific address falls within a designated ward on the council's page before applying. SOURCE CONFLICT — WE FOLLOW THE INSTRUMENT. Croydon's designation notice under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 states at paragraph 5 that the designation "is made on 25 March 2026 and will come into force on 1st September 2026", and at paragraph 6 that it ceases on 1 September 2031. Croydon's own website states 25 September 2026 on two separate landlord pages. The council contradicts its own instrument. We publish the instrument date, 1 September 2026, because a designation takes effect on the date the notice specifies and not on the date a summary page repeats. A landlord should hold a licence by 1 September 2026 to be compliant under either reading — the earlier date is the safe one, and being licensed early carries no penalty while being licensed late carries a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order and the loss of section 21.
Areas: 14 of Croydon's 28 wards, covering about 72.5 per cent of the private rented sector. Designated 25 March 2026, commences 1 September 2026
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £480 |
| Part B | £320 |
| Total | £800 |
- Discounts: EPC B or above £50 off Part B, accredited £100 off Part B, multi-dwelling £100 off Part A
Croydon, read 19 August 2026
Scheme runs until: 1 September 2031
Croydon Council designated a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme on 25 March 2026 under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004. It comes into force on 1 September 2026 and runs for five years. It covers smaller HMOs occupied by three or more people forming two or more households that are not already caught by mandatory licensing. A property holding a mandatory HMO licence does not also need an additional licence. SOURCE CONFLICT — WE FOLLOW THE INSTRUMENT. Croydon's additional HMO licensing designation under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004 states that the designation "is made on 25 March 2026 and shall come into force on 1st September 2026", ceasing 1 September 2031. Croydon's own website states 25 September 2026 on two separate landlord pages. The council contradicts its own instrument. We publish the instrument date, 1 September 2026, because a designation takes effect on the date the notice specifies and not on the date a summary page repeats. A landlord should hold a licence by 1 September 2026 to be compliant under either reading — the earlier date is the safe one, and being licensed early carries no penalty while being licensed late carries a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order and the loss of section 21.
Areas: Borough-wide, all 28 wards. Designated 25 March 2026, commences 1 September 2026
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £750 |
| Part B | £500 |
| Total | £1,250 |
- Discounts: EPC B or above £50 off Part B, accredited £100 off Part B
Croydon, read 19 August 2026
Scheme runs until: 1 September 2031
Common questions
Does Croydon have a selective licensing scheme?
Yes, from 1 September 2026. Croydon has designated a selective licensing scheme that comes into force on 1 September 2026. A licence is not required before that date, but it will be from it.
Does Croydon have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
Yes, from 1 September 2026. Croydon has designated an additional HMO licensing scheme that comes into force on 1 September 2026. A licence is not required before that date, but it will be from it.
Do I need an HMO licence in Croydon?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Croydon, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
Selective licensing in Croydon: areas, dates and fees →
Additional HMO licensing in Croydon: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in London →
Source: Croydon licensing page →
Every landlord in Croydon also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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