Croydon HMO licensing starts 1 September 2026 — every document, one visit
The Additional HMO Licensing scheme applies across the whole borough. We provide all seven documents Croydon's licensing team asks for — floor plan, EICR, gas safety, fire alarm test, emergency lighting test, fire risk assessment and EPC — from one appointment, with reports usually issued within 24 hours.
Two different start dates are currently published
Croydon Council's website states 25 September 2026 on several pages. The signed legal designation made under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004 states 1 September 2026, and the Cabinet decision record agrees.
A designation is the legal instrument that brings a scheme into force; a webpage is explanatory. We have asked Croydon to confirm which date enforcement will use and will update this page when they reply. Until then we recommend preparing for 1 September.
Sources: Public Notice of Designation (PDF) · Croydon landlord licensing
Two schemes, both running for five years
| Additional HMO licence | Selective licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Borough-wide, all 28 wards | 14 designated wards |
| Applies to | HMOs occupied by 3 or more persons comprising 2 or more households | All privately rented homes, including single households |
| Fee | £1,250 | £800 |
| Term | 5 years | 5 years |
Properties occupied by 5 or more people in 2 or more households already require a mandatory HMO licence, and that requirement continues everywhere. A property already holding a mandatory licence does not need an additional or selective licence as well.
The 14 selective licensing wards
Seven documents Croydon asks to see
Croydon's application page lists the documents below. Most providers supply three or four of them. We cover all seven from a single visit, so there is one appointment to arrange with tenants rather than several.
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| Floor plan | Every floor level, windows, doors, stairs, room uses and room sizes in square metres |
| EICR | Current Electrical Installation Condition Report covering every circuit and consumer unit |
| Gas safety certificate | Current certificate where the property has a gas supply |
| Fire alarm test certificate | Current test certificate for the installed detection system |
| Emergency lighting test certificate | Current certificate where emergency lighting is fitted |
| Fire risk assessment | Written assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 |
| EPC | Whole-building energy performance certificate |
Croydon also asks for a planning certificate or approval, a building control completion certificate and proof of the licence holder's address. Whether those are required in every case, or only where relevant works or a change of use have taken place, is not stated on the published page — we have asked the council to clarify.
Croydon Licence Pack — priced by room count
Prices are confirmed in writing before any visit is booked. Bought individually the same seven documents come to around £895. Managing three or more properties? Ask about portfolio pricing.
Often added
| Service | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Legionella risk assessment | £225 | Separate landlord duty under HSE ACOP L8, not part of the licence application |
| Asbestos management survey | £275 | Common parts of pre-2000 conversions |
| Fire door certificate | £165 | Where fire doors are fitted to escape routes |
| PAT testing | £95 | Appliances supplied by the landlord |
| Fire extinguisher testing | £95 | Annual service of provided extinguishers |
| Express 24-hour turnaround | +£95 | Where an application deadline is close |
Croydon's room standards are larger than the national minimums
A room can satisfy the national statutory minimum and still fail Croydon's own published HMO standards. This is the most common reason a property is licensed for fewer occupants than the landlord expected.
| Arrangement | Croydon standard | National minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Single-room letting, shared kitchen | 10 m² | 6.51 m² |
| Room with ensuite, cooking elsewhere | 12.5 m² | 6.51 m² |
| Room containing kitchen facilities | 13.5 m² | 6.51 m² |
| Shared house, separate kitchen and living room | 6.5 m² | 6.51 m² |
Croydon also applies a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.3 m in habitable rooms, 2.14 m over at least 75% of an existing attic room, a maximum of two sleepers per bedroom, and one shared kitchen for no more than five people. Floor area beneath a ceiling height of 1.53 m is disregarded.
If you are unsure whether a room will support the occupancy you are applying for, say so on the form. It is far cheaper to measure before submitting than to be refused after paying.
What Croydon charges, and what it costs to get it wrong
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Part A — on submission | £750 | Not refunded if the application is refused, rejected or withdrawn |
| Part B — on grant | £500 | Payable once the council decides to grant the licence |
| Total, five-year licence | £1,250 | |
| EPC rating B or above | −£50 | Reduction applied to Part B |
| Accredited landlord (LLAS, NRLA, UKALA) | −£100 | Reduction applied to Part B |
Both reductions are withdrawn where Croydon has had to request additional supporting documents twice, or has served a warning letter for failure to licence. Submitting a complete application first time is worth up to £150 in cash, before counting the delay.
The public notice understates the penalty Check this
Croydon's designation, signed on 25 March 2026, states a financial penalty of up to £30,000 and a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months' rent.
Both figures were superseded six weeks later. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 raised the maximum civil penalty to £40,000 and extended Rent Repayment Orders to 24 months for offences committed from 1 May 2026. Because this scheme begins in September, every offence under it falls under the higher figures.
Breach of a licence condition carries a separate fine of up to £5,000 per breach on summary conviction. Relevant offences are also added to the Greater London Authority Rogue Landlord and Agent Register.
From enquiry to licence-ready file in four steps
Tell us about the property
Postcode, room count and whether there is a gas supply. Call, WhatsApp or use the form.
Fixed quote, same day
We confirm the price and the earliest available visit in writing before you commit.
One visit
Qualified, insured engineers attend together where possible, so tenants are disturbed once.
Your licence file
All documents emailed together, usually within 24 hours of the visit, formatted to attach to the application.
Croydon HMO licensing FAQs
When does the scheme actually start?
The signed designation says 1 September 2026 and runs to 1 September 2031. Several Croydon Council webpages say 25 September 2026. We have asked the council to confirm which date enforcement will use. Until they reply, prepare for 1 September — being early costs nothing, being late is an offence.
Does my property need an Additional HMO licence?
If it is occupied by 3 or more persons forming 2 or more households and does not already require a mandatory HMO licence, yes — anywhere in the borough. Properties with 5 or more occupants in 2 or more households need a mandatory licence instead.
Certain converted buildings under section 257 of the Housing Act 2004 are excluded, as are properties under an Interim or Final Management Order or a temporary exemption.
I let a flat to one family in a selective ward. Does that count?
Yes. Selective licensing applies to all privately rented homes in the 14 designated wards regardless of occupancy, including single households. The fee is £800.
Why is a floor plan so important?
It is the document most often missing or incomplete, and an incomplete application triggers a request for further information — which can cost you the £150 in fee reductions. Croydon requires every floor level, windows, doors, stairs, room uses and room sizes in square metres.
Croydon has not published a required drawing scale or whether linear dimensions must be shown in metres or millimetres. We have asked, and produce plans to a recognised metric scale with areas stated in square metres.
Can you help if a room is too small?
We can measure and tell you what the property will support before you apply. We cannot advise on planning or building works. If a room falls below Croydon's standard, the practical options are to apply for a lower occupancy or to reconfigure — and it is much better to know before paying the non-refundable £750.
Do you submit the application for me?
No. We supply the documents; the licence application is made by the licence holder. Everything we issue is formatted to attach directly to Croydon's online application.
Tell us about the property
A few details and we'll come back with a fixed quote and the earliest slot, usually the same day.