Croydon Landlord Licensing Is Now Live: 7 Things to Check Before You Apply
Croydon landlords, if you've discovered that your rental property needs a licence, don't just rush through the application.
There are a few things you should check first.
Croydon's new Selective Licensing Scheme and Additional HMO Licensing Scheme came into force on 25 September 2026. That means if your property falls within one of the schemes, licensing is no longer something you can simply put off and deal with later.
But here's the thing I want landlords to understand:
Finding out that you need a licence is only step one.
Before you start your application, you need to make sure you know which licence applies, have your paperwork ready and understand what you're actually signing up to.
So, if you're a Croydon landlord, here are 7 things I would check before applying for your property licence.
1. First, make sure you actually need a licence and which one
This sounds obvious, but this is where I would start.
Not every rental property in Croydon needs a Selective Licence.
Croydon's Selective Licensing Scheme applies to qualifying privately rented properties in 14 designated 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
Woodside
For Selective Licensing, the property will generally be one that is rented to a single household, such as a family, a single tenant or two individuals sharing.
But if your property is an HMO, you need to look at the HMO licensing rules instead.
Croydon also has an Additional HMO Licensing Scheme, while mandatory HMO licensing continues to apply to properties that fall within the national mandatory licensing criteria.
And importantly, if your property is already covered by a Mandatory HMO or Additional HMO licence, you don't also need a Selective Licence for the same property.
So don't start by filling in the form. Start by identifying which licensing scheme applies to your property.
2. Get your certificates together before you start
This is one of those things that sounds simple until you're halfway through the application and realise you're missing documents.
For a Selective Licence, Croydon Council currently asks for documents including:
Gas Safety Certificate, where applicable
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Floor plan
Management details
Proof of the proposed licence holder's address
Accreditation evidence if you're applying for a relevant discount
You'll also need information about the property, its occupants and people or organisations with an interest in the property.
If you're applying for an Additional HMO Licence, there are additional requirements, including fire alarm and emergency lighting certificates where applicable, a fire risk assessment, planning information and a more detailed floor plan.
My advice?
Get the paperwork together first.
Don't leave it until you've opened the application.
It will make the process much easier and it gives you an opportunity to spot anything that's out of date before you submit.
3. Check your floor plan
This is one that landlords can easily overlook.
Your floor plan isn't just a pretty drawing of the property.
Croydon Council says the plan should show:
All floor levels
Rooms
Windows
Doors
Stairs
Room uses
Room sizes in square metres
Room measurements should be based on internal wall measurements.
And if you've changed the layout of your property over the years, don't simply assume that an old floor plan is still accurate.
Check it against the property as it is today.
If you've knocked through a room, converted a space, added a bathroom or changed how rooms are being used, make sure the information you're providing reflects the actual property.
4. Check that your property meets the licence conditions
Here's where I think landlords need to be particularly careful.
A licence isn't simply a piece of paper that you apply for and then forget about.
Once a Selective Licence is granted, the licence holder has conditions to comply with throughout the life of the licence. Croydon Council says landlords must, among other things:
Keep the property in good repair
Keep the property free from serious hazards
Maintain required gas and electrical safety documentation
Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and maintained as required
Take reasonable steps to obtain references for new tenants
Have appropriate waste-management arrangements
Take reasonable steps to deal with anti-social behaviour connected with the property
So before you apply, I would do a property compliance check.
Don't just ask:
"Have I got my EICR?"
Ask:
"If the council looked at how this property is actually being managed, would I be comfortable with everything they've asked me to comply with?"
That's a much better question.
5. Check who is going to be responsible for the licence
This is particularly important if you use a letting or property management agent.
The landlord doesn't necessarily have to personally complete every part of the application.
Croydon's guidance explains that anyone can be the applicant, but responsibility for making the application rests with the person in control of or managing the property. This can include the owner, manager or agent who receives the rent.
You can also nominate a manager or agent as the licence holder, but they must agree to take on the responsibilities and obligations associated with the licence.
So if you use an agent, don't simply say:
"My agent deals with it."
Ask them:
"Who is applying for the licence, who will be the licence holder and who is responsible for keeping the property compliant?"
Get that clear.
6. Know what the licence is going to cost you
Let's talk about the bit nobody particularly enjoys the fee.
For a standard Selective Licence, Croydon Council currently lists a total fee of £800, split into:
Part A: £480
Part B: £320
There are also certain discounts available, including discounts relating to EPC rating, landlord accreditation and qualifying multiple properties.
For an Additional HMO Licence, the standard total fee is currently £1,250, again payable in two parts.
One important point: Part A is payable when you submit the application and is non-refundable in the circumstances set out by the Council.
And if your application is incomplete, the Council says you will generally have 14 days to provide the missing information. If you don't, the application can be rejected and you may have to pay the Part A fee again if you reapply.
So don't treat the application like a form you can quickly fill in on your phone while you're having your morning coffee.
Have your information ready.
7. Don't leave it until the last minute
This is probably the most important point.
The schemes are now live.
Croydon Council says landlords are being given reasonable time to licence their properties, typically until 31 December 2026. However, the Council also states that after that date it will enforce against landlords who have not applied.
And this isn't something to ignore.
Under the Housing Act 2004, managing or having control of a property that is required to be licensed but isn't licensed can constitute an offence. The legislation also provides for financial penalties for relevant housing offences, with the maximum civil penalty for these offences in England currently set at £40,000.
Croydon Council itself states that enforcement action for failing to licence can include a financial penalty of up to £40,000, prosecution and, in some circumstances, taking over management of the property.
So my advice is simple:
Don't wait until December to discover that your paperwork isn't in order.
If you think your property needs a licence, check it now.
A Croydon landlord licensing checklist
Before you apply, ask yourself:
☐ Is my property in one of the designated Selective Licensing wards?
☐ Is it actually a Selective Licence that I need, or does HMO licensing apply?
☐ Have I checked whether my property is exempt?
☐ Is my EPC valid?
☐ Is my EICR up to date?
☐ Is my Gas Safety Certificate up to date, if applicable?
☐ Do I have an accurate floor plan?
☐ Do I have the information about the occupants and interested parties?
☐ Do I know who will be the licence holder?
☐ If I use an agent, have we agreed who is responsible for the application and ongoing compliance?
☐ Have I checked the licence conditions?
☐ Have I budgeted for the licence fee?
If you can answer all of those questions, you're in a much better position before you start the application.
What if you're still not sure?
And this is where I would say don't guess.
Croydon's licensing system is not simply a case of:
"My property is in Croydon, therefore I need a Selective Licence."
You need to look at the location, property type, occupation and any exemptions that may apply.
And if you're already using an agent, make sure you know exactly what they are doing for you.
The Council provides its own licensing guidance and application process, so that's the place to check the current requirements before submitting your application.
If you're a Croydon landlord and you're still unsure what applies to your property, don't leave it until the end of the year.
Get the position checked, get your paperwork together and make sure you know who is responsible for keeping the property compliant.
Because applying for the licence is only the beginning managing the property in accordance with the licence conditions is the part that continues for the life of the licence.
Useful official resources
For the latest requirements, always check the current Croydon Council guidance:
Croydon Council- Landlord Licensing
Croydon Council- Selective Licensing Scheme 2026
Croydon Council- Applying for a Selective Licence
Croydon Council- Selective Licence Conditions
Croydon Council- Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2026
Housing Act 2004- legislation.gov.uk
This article is intended as general information for landlords and should not be treated as legal advice. Licensing requirements and council guidance can change, so landlords should check the latest official requirements before making an application.