Do you need a landlord licence in Croydon?

Whether you need a licence to let a property in Croydon depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Croydon (London), like every English council, must license larger HMOs, and it can also designate areas for additional or selective licensing. Here’s what each means, what happens if you get it wrong, and how to check Croydon’s current rules.

Licensing in Croydon as at 25 September 2026

Croydon runs selective licensing (14 wards, since 25 September 2026) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, since 25 September 2026), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Area: 14 wards: Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Fairfield, Norbury and Pollards Hill, Norbury Park, Selhurst, South Croydon, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Waddon, West Thornton and Woodside

Scheme dates: Since 25 September 2026

Fee: £800 (Part A £480 + Part B £320); £544 for a one-year licence; £50 off Part B for an EPC of B or above, £100 off for accredited landlords; £100 off Part A from the second flat in a multi-dwelling application

Additional HMO licensing

Area: Borough-wide: HMOs with 3 or 4 people forming 2 or more households

Scheme dates: Since 25 September 2026

Fee: £1,250 (Part A £750 + Part B £500); £850 for a one-year licence; £50 off Part B for an EPC of B or above, £100 off for accredited landlords

Mandatory HMO licensing
Applies everywhere in Croydon, as across England, to HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Both schemes are new: they came into force on 25 September 2026. If you let in Croydon and haven't applied, do so now.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Croydon before you apply.

The three types of licence

  • Mandatory HMO licence. Required across England for larger HMOs — typically a property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This applies in Croydon regardless of any local scheme.
  • Additional HMO licence. Croydon can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
  • Selective licence. Croydon can require a licence for all privately rented homes — including ordinary single-family lets — within a designated area. Larger schemes need government approval, and they’re used in areas with specific housing or anti-social-behaviour concerns.

The penalties for renting unlicensed in Croydon

Letting a property that needs a licence without one is a criminal offence. You risk an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent, and a possible banning order. (Those are the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act raised them from £30,000 and 12 months.)

How to check Croydon's current schemes

Designations change, so always confirm the live position. Search Croydon’s website for “property licensing” or “landlord licensing”, check whether your postcode falls inside a designated area, and note the licence type, the boundaries and the scheme dates. If in doubt, contact Croydon’s private-sector housing team before you let. The summary above was checked against Croydon’s own licensing page on 25 September 2026.

Never miss a licensing deadline

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Croydon?

As at 25 September 2026, Croydon runs selective licensing (14 wards, since 25 September 2026) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, since 25 September 2026), on top of mandatory HMO licensing. If your property is in a selective licensing area, you need a licence for any privately rented home there — including an ordinary single let — unless it is exempt or licensed as an HMO. If you let an HMO that doesn't need a mandatory licence and falls within additional licensing (borough-wide), it needs an additional HMO licence. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Croydon. Check your exact address on Croydon's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Croydon?

Croydon's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: £800 (Part A £480 + Part B £320); £544 for a one-year licence; £50 off Part B for an EPC of B or above, £100 off for accredited landlords; £100 off Part A from the second flat in a multi-dwelling application. Additional HMO licence: £1,250 (Part A £750 + Part B £500); £850 for a one-year licence; £50 off Part B for an EPC of B or above, £100 off for accredited landlords. Fees are set by the council and can change, so confirm the current figure before you apply.

What happens if I rent without a required licence in Croydon?

Renting an unlicensed property that needs a licence is a criminal offence. You can face an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, and a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent (the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026).

Check landlord licensing in other areas.