Croydon private rented property licence

The Housing Act 2004 has given councils the power to introduce the licensing of privately rented properties to improve conditions for tenants and the local community. This includes the licensing of family properties and smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMO) through a selective licensing or additional HMO licensing scheme.

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Croydon private rented property licence

The Housing Act 2004 has given councils the power to introduce the licensing of privately rented properties to improve conditions for tenants and the wider community.

This includes the licensing of single-household properties and smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMO) through a selective licensing or additional HMO licensing scheme.

On 25 March 2026, proposals for a new selective licensing scheme and an additional HMO licensing scheme were approved by Cabinet.

These schemes will come into effect on 1 September 2026 and will run for five years. 

The new selective licensing scheme

The new selective licensing scheme covers 14 of the borough’s 28 wards and applies to all privately rented homes in those areas. 
This excludes Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that are already covered under existing mandatory licensing schemes. The additional licensing scheme will be applicable borough-wide.

The aim of both schemes is to identify unsafe or hazardous property conditions and make sure homes meet the required legal standards.

Wards covered by the selective licensing scheme

Properties in the following Wards are covered by the scheme:

  • 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
  • Woodside

Additional HMO Licensing

The new Additional Licensing Scheme has now been formally designated. This means the scheme has officially been approved by the council and HMOs borough-wide will now need an additional licence. 

A property requires an additional licence if:

  • It is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) occupied by two or more people forming two or more households, and
  • It is not already covered under mandatory HMO licensing.


View the the full Public Notice of Designation for Additional Licensing Additional HMO Licencing Designation (PDF, 80KB)

The fee for this license will be £1250.

Selective Licensing

The Cabinet has approved a new Selective Licensing Scheme. The designation has now been published.
This means the scheme has been approved and most privately rented properties within the 14 wards covered by the scheme will now need a licence if: 

  • It is a privately rented property occupied by a single household.


View the full Public Notice of Designation for Selective Licensing here (PDF,88KB)

The fee for this license will be £800