Croydon Landlord Licensing: Which Scheme Applies to Your Property

Three Licensing Schemes, One Borough

Croydon now runs three separate property licensing schemes under the Housing Act 2004, and most private rented homes in the borough need one of them. Getting the wrong one — or ignoring the requirement entirely — risks civil penalties of up to £40,000 per offence and rent repayment orders covering up to 24 months of rent.

Here is what each scheme covers.

Mandatory HMO licensing applies borough-wide to any property occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households who share amenities. This is a permanent national scheme with no expiry date.

Additional HMO licensing (CAHMOL 2026) covers smaller shared houses — three or four occupiers forming two or more households — across all 28 Croydon wards. The scheme started on 25 September 2026 and runs until 24 September 2031.

Selective licensing (CPRPL 2026) covers non-HMO private rented homes let to a single household, a single tenant, or two unrelated sharers. It applies only in 14 designated wards in north and west Croydon, running the same five-year term from 25 September 2026 to 24 September 2031.

How the Schemes Interact

A property can only need one licence. The Housing Act 2004 sets a strict hierarchy: mandatory HMO takes priority over additional HMO, and any HMO licence exempts the property from selective licensing under Section 79(2). You never pay for two licences on the same dwelling.

The practical decision runs top-down:

1. Five or more occupiers in two or more households → mandatory HMO licence
2. Three or four occupiers in two or more households → additional HMO licence
3. Single household, single tenant, or two sharers in one of the 14 selective wards → selective licence
4. Single household outside the 14 wards → no local licence required

What "Registration" Actually Means

Croydon does not operate a separate landlord registration system. When landlords search for "Croydon landlord registration," they usually mean the licensing application itself, submitted through the council's Metastreet online portal.

There is, however, a new national requirement coming separately: the Private Rented Sector Database under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 opens for London landlords on 15 July 2027, with a mandatory registration deadline of 14 October 2027. That national registration does not replace local Croydon licensing — both run concurrently.

The Selective Licensing Backstory

Croydon previously ran a borough-wide selective licensing scheme (CPRPL 2015) that expired in 2020. The current 14-ward scheme was approved by Cabinet on 25 March 2026 after a 12-week public consultation and came into force on 25 September 2026. Online sources citing a November 2023 start date are referencing an inaccurate lead — the scheme was not renewed until 2026.

Fees at a Glance

Selective licensing costs £800 for a five-year licence (or £544 for one year). Additional HMO licensing is £1,250 (or £850 for one year). Mandatory HMO licensing is calculated at £295 per habitable room. All fees split into two stages: a non-refundable Part A paid at submission and a Part B paid before the licence is granted. Accreditation and EPC discounts can reduce these costs.

Next Steps

If you are not sure which licence your property needs or how to prepare the application, our Croydon Landlord Licensing Guide walks through every scheme, the 14-ward list, document requirements, fees with discount stacking, and the full application process step by step.

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