Norbury renters and landlords have a summer date to keep in mind: Croydon Council says new private rented property licensing schemes are due to start on 1 September 2026.
The council’s current guidance says selective licensing will apply to all privately rented properties in selected wards. The list includes both Norbury and Pollards Hill and Norbury Park.
The same council guidance says additional HMO licensing will apply borough-wide to smaller houses in multiple occupation that are not already covered by mandatory HMO licensing.
What is listed for Norbury
On its selective licensing page, Croydon Council says landlords must apply for a licence before renting out a property in the selected wards, unless the property is already licensed as a house in multiple occupation under the council’s mandatory or additional HMO licensing schemes.
The council says properties needing a selective licence include homes rented to a single household, let to a single tenant, or rented by two individuals sharing. Its selected-ward list includes:
- Norbury and Pollards Hill
- Norbury Park
- Thornton Heath
- West Thornton
- Broad Green
- South Norwood
- Woodside
- and other named Croydon wards
Residents and landlords who are unsure which ward a property is in can use Croydon Observatory or the council’s selective licensing map, both linked from the council page.
HMO licensing is borough-wide
Croydon Council’s additional HMO licensing page says the scheme will apply across the borough from 1 September 2026.
The council says an additional HMO licence is needed where a property is occupied by 3 or more persons comprising 2 or more households, unless it is already licensed as a mandatory HMO. The same page notes that HMOs occupied by 5 or more people who are not living together as a single household and share facilities need to be licensed under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme.
What to check next
- Landlords: check whether a privately rented property is in Norbury and Pollards Hill, Norbury Park or another selected ward, and whether selective or HMO licensing is the relevant route.
- Renters: the council pages explain which types of rented homes the schemes cover and may be useful if you want to understand the rules applying to your accommodation.
- Timing: Croydon Council says further information on when applications for selective licences and additional HMO licences can be made will be provided in July 2026.
- Official source: use the council pages for the latest fees, conditions, exemptions and application details.
This article is a practical pointer to official public information, not legal advice. The rules contain exemptions and property-specific details, so landlords and residents should check Croydon Council’s current guidance directly.