Local HMO compliance enquiry route
HMO Certificate Enquiries in Croydon
Organise the separate records needed for a Croydon HMO licence application, renewal, property review or planned shared letting. The timing matters. Mandatory licensing already applies to qualifying HMOs occupied by five or more people, while Croydon Council says its borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme for smaller HMOs will start on 25 September 2026. Planning is a separate requirement: Croydon's borough-wide Article 4 direction removes the usual permitted development route for changing a C3 home to a C4 small HMO. Send the full address, current and proposed occupation, household relationships, layout, council instructions, existing reports, planning evidence, access contacts and deadline so each inspection is matched to the correct dwelling and installed system.
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Start with the occupation date and the exact Croydon address
A request made before the additional scheme begins may have a different licensing position from a tenancy continuing after 25 September 2026. Confirm the people, households, property type and relevant date before arranging supporting inspections.
Current and proposed occupiers
List every person who lives or will live at the address, explain the household relationships and identify shared kitchens, bathrooms, WCs or living rooms. State the proposed tenancy or renewal date as well as the present occupation.
House, flat or converted building
Describe a shared house, maisonette, flat, bedsit arrangement, converted building or mixture of units. Record joint or separate tenancies, self-contained flats, a resident landlord and any common parts controlled by a freeholder or manager.
Plan, rooms and installations
Provide a floor plan showing every level, door, window, stair, room use and room size. List kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, then identify the gas appliances, consumer units, fire alarm, emergency lighting and other safety equipment at the property.
Planning, ownership and access
Include the planning decision, lawful-use evidence or current planning enquiry, plus details for the freeholder, leaseholder, managing agent and mortgage provider where relevant. Name the authorised key-holder for every room and shared area in scope.
Croydon HMO access differs between transport hubs and suburban conversions
Croydon town centre, East Croydon, West Croydon, Addiscombe, South Norwood and Thornton Heath include converted houses, flats over shops, maisonettes, purpose-built blocks and mixed-use addresses. At one postal address, a commercial ground floor, several flats and the common stairs may be controlled by different people. Identify the HMO entrance and floor, utility meters, boiler, consumer units and any shared alarm panel. Tram routes, controlled parking, loading restrictions, station-area traffic and concierge procedures can all affect a complete inspection visit.
Norbury, Purley, Coulsdon, Sanderstead, New Addington and the borough boundaries include terraces, inter-war houses, larger detached properties, loft conversions, rear additions and estates. The locality name alone may not confirm whether the address sits in Croydon or a neighbouring authority, so provide the complete postcode. Note side or rear access, locked meter cupboards, rooms in lofts or basements, outbuildings and areas retained by the landlord. If the layout has changed, compare the current occupation with the application plan before booking.
Prepare Croydon's HMO evidence as separate documents
Croydon's mandatory application guidance asks for detailed property information and current supporting records. The documents serve different purposes. The council licence authorises a qualifying property, the floor plan describes it, and inspection reports record the condition or testing of specific systems. One document cannot replace the others.
Gas and electrical records
Croydon requires a current EICR and, where the property has gas, a current gas safety certificate. Identify all gas appliances, meters, boilers, flues and consumer units, then provide complete reports and evidence for any completed remedial work.
Fire alarm and emergency lighting
Croydon requests current test certificates where a fire alarm or emergency-lighting system is provided or required. Describe the escape route, fire doors, alarm panel, detectors, sounders, emergency lights and every communal area covered by the system.
Fire risk and building evidence
Keep the current fire safety risk assessment with the application file. Croydon also asks applicants for planning approval and a building-control completion certificate where applicable, so distinguish approved works from installation test records.
Floor plan and facilities
The current application guidance asks for a plan showing all floors, windows, doors, stairs, room uses and room sizes in square metres. Record bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and cooking facilities so the plan and occupancy schedule describe the same arrangement.
What is Croydon's current HMO licensing and planning position?
Croydon currently requires mandatory licensing for qualifying HMOs occupied by five or more people who are not living as one household and share facilities. The council says it does not yet have an additional licensing scheme, but that a new borough-wide scheme starts on 25 September 2026. The forthcoming route will cover qualifying HMOs occupied by at least three people forming at least two households that are not already mandatorily licensed, subject to the published definitions and exemptions. Applicants should recheck the live council page before a tenancy or application deadline.
For a mandatory application, Croydon currently asks for a floor plan, facility and safety-equipment details, a current EICR, a current gas safety certificate where gas is supplied, relevant fire-alarm and emergency-lighting test certificates, a fire safety risk assessment, planning approval and building-control completion evidence. Separately, the borough-wide HMO Article 4 direction has required planning permission for C3-to-C4 changes since 28 January 2020. London Landlord Certifications can route safety-record enquiries; it does not decide licence eligibility, planning permission or council acceptance.
Coordinate the Croydon licence route, planning check and inspections
1. Check which scheme applies on the relevant date
Test the current occupation against mandatory licensing first. For a smaller HMO, review Croydon's live additional-scheme page and the tenancy date: the council currently states that borough-wide additional licensing starts on 25 September 2026.
2. Resolve planning separately
Croydon's whole-borough Article 4 direction requires a planning check for a proposed C3-to-C4 small HMO conversion. Review the planning history, existing use and any building works rather than assuming a property licence provides planning consent.
3. Reconcile documents and physical access
Compare the online application, floor plan, room schedule, EICR, gas record, fire alarm and emergency-lighting certificates, fire risk assessment, planning evidence and building-control records. Resolve old layouts or inaccessible rooms before booking.
Practical HMO certificate questions for Croydon properties
Is there one HMO certificate for a Croydon licence application?
No. Croydon licenses the qualifying property, while the application file can include separate gas, electrical, fire-alarm, emergency-lighting and fire-risk records alongside the floor plan, planning evidence and building-control documents.
When does a Croydon HMO need mandatory licensing?
Mandatory licensing applies to qualifying HMOs occupied by five or more people who form more than one household and share facilities. The building, occupation and any exemption still need to be checked against Croydon's current rules.
Does Croydon currently license smaller HMOs?
As of August 2026, Croydon says it does not yet operate additional HMO licensing. Its new borough-wide scheme is scheduled to start on 25 September 2026 for qualifying HMOs occupied by at least three people forming at least two households. Check the council page for any date or application update.
Does a new small HMO need planning permission in Croydon?
Croydon's borough-wide Article 4 direction has applied since 28 January 2020. It removes the usual permitted development right for changing a C3 home to a C4 small HMO, so planning permission must be checked separately from licensing.
What should I send before arranging Croydon HMO inspections?
Send the complete address, current and proposed occupiers, households, tenancy date, floor plan, room sizes, facilities, council wording, existing reports, planning and building-control evidence, authorised access contacts and deadline.
Need to prepare the safety file for a Croydon HMO?
Send the full Croydon address, present and proposed occupation, household relationships, relevant tenancy date, building and letting arrangement, floor plan, room sizes, facilities, licence wording, current safety records, planning and building-control information, access contacts and required date. The enquiry can then be divided into the relevant inspection routes while the current and forthcoming licensing positions remain clear.