Why did Croydon go without selective licensing after 2020?

The Secretary of State refused the council's proposed renewal, finding it had not shown how the scheme fitted its housing strategy or given enough evidence on housing conditions. The 2026 selective designation was made under the General Approval, so it did not need the Secretary of State's confirmation.

When did a let in one of Croydon's 14 selective wards start needing a licence?

On 25 September 2026. The March 2026 designations gave 1 September 2026, but in July 2026 the council moved the start because officers needed more time for "full system testing and validation". The new date of 25 September was the latest lawful one, six months after Cabinet approved the schemes on 25 March. As of October 2026, the designations still say they cease on 1 September 2031.

Is an EICR a legal requirement for landlords in Croydon?

Yes. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require all landlords — including those renting properties in Croydon — to hold a valid EICR. The requirement has applied to all tenancies in England since April 2021. Landlords must provide a copy to tenants before they move in and to the local authority within 7 days of a written request. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach.

How much does an EICR cost in Croydon?

An EICR in Croydon starts from £67.99 for a studio apartment. A 1–3 bedroom property costs £94.99. Prices scale by property size up to £199.99 for an 8-bedroom HMO. The only location-based surcharge is £20 for properties within the London Congestion Charge Zone, and £10 if no free on-site parking is available.

How long does an EICR take in Croydon?

Most EICR inspections in Croydon take 2–4 hours depending on the size and age of the property. Older properties and larger installations may take slightly longer. You do not need to be present; a tenant or keyholder can provide access and the certificate will be emailed directly to you within 24 hours.

How often do I need an EICR?

The law requires an EICR every 5 years, or at each change of tenancy — whichever comes first. If the engineer recommends a shorter re-inspection interval in the report (for example 2 years on an older or complex installation), that interval takes precedence. Always keep the EICR certificate on file — you must be able to supply a copy to tenants and your local authority on request.

What happens if my EICR fails?

An EICR is classified as 'unsatisfactory' if the engineer finds a C1 (immediate danger) or C2 (potentially dangerous) code. C1 hazards must be made safe by the engineer before leaving the property. C2 observations must be remedied within 28 days and evidenced in writing to your local authority before the property can be legally let. C3 codes (improvement recommended) do not cause the EICR to fail — the property can still receive a satisfactory result. We can arrange remedial works through our network of NICEIC approved electricians.

NICEIC Approved · Certificate Within 24 Hours · Croydon

EICR Croydon — from £67.99

Electrical Installation Condition Report for landlords in Croydon. NICEIC approved electricians, fixed pricing, no hidden charges — certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Postcodes covered: CR0, CR2, CR7, SE25, CR8, CR5, SE19, SW16. Same-week appointments available — book online in under 3 minutes.

from£67.99

Book EICR in Croydon — from £67.99 View pricing

From: £67.99
Valid for: 5 years
Certificate: within 24 hours
Accreditation: NICEIC Approved

What is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection and test of all fixed electrical wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings and the consumer unit within a rental property. A qualified NICEIC approved electrician tests every circuit from the consumer unit, checks earthing and bonding arrangements, and assigns a condition code to every observation that falls below the current British Standard BS 7671 — the IET Wiring Regulations. The result is a written report that tells you whether the electrical installation is satisfactory for continued use and — if not — what needs to be addressed and within what timeframe.

Since April 2021, every private landlord in England has been legally required to hold a valid EICR and renew it every five years. This national duty applies in Croydon as it does across England, and an HMO licence can add its own conditions on top. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach and a remedial notice from your local authority.

Legal requirement: The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to all rental properties in Croydon. Every landlord must hold a valid EICR, provide a copy to tenants before they move in, and supply it to their local authority within 7 days of a written request. Failure carries a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach.

EICR in Croydon — local property context

Houses outnumber flats in Croydon. At the 2021 Census, 24.7% of households lived in semi-detached houses, 23.3% in terraces and 12.2% in detached houses, against 29.0% in purpose-built flats and 8.5% in flats in converted or shared houses. By build date, 23.5% of council tax properties are from 1919 to 1939 and 25.7% from 1945 to 1982 (VOA 2025).

The council estimates that 31.2% of Croydon's housing stock is privately rented. The 2021 Census counted households instead and found 25.8% renting privately, below London's 30.0%. Our NICEIC approved electricians are experienced with the specific electrical characteristics common to properties in the CR0, CR2, CR7, SE25, CR8, CR5, SE19, SW16 postcode areas and regularly carry out EICR inspections across Croydon for private landlords, letting agents and HMO operators.

Postcodes covered in Croydon

CR0, CR2, CR7, SE25, CR8, CR5, SE19, SW16 and surrounding areas. Enter your full postcode during booking to confirm coverage and availability.

EICRs in Croydon: wards chosen for poor housing conditions

Croydon chose its 14 selective wards as those "experiencing high levels of poor housing conditions". Once a home there is licensed, Croydon's conditions require the EICR to be kept and passed to the next inspector, so the history of the installation stays with the property.

Property licensing in Croydon

The London Borough of Croydon Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation 2026
Additional HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households that are not mandatory HMOs. Some section 257 converted blocks may also need a licence: check with the council
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
25 September 2026 to 1 September 2031 (end date as published, October 2026)
London Borough of Croydon Designation for Areas for Selective Licensing 2026
Selective · In force
Applies to:
Privately rented homes let to a single household, a single tenant or two sharers, unless licensed as an HMO or otherwise exempt
Area:
14 of 28 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 and Woodside
Period:
25 September 2026 to 1 September 2031 (end date as published, October 2026)
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 5 or more people from 2 or more households who share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
National scheme, no end date

Checked October 2026. Schemes and fees change, so confirm the current position on the Croydon Council licensing page.

Licences granted under the 2010 to 2020 schemes: About 40,000; Croydon Council
Private rented homes in the 14 selective wards: 60% of the borough's total; Croydon Council
Households owning their home: 54.7% (London 45.2%); Census 2021
Households renting from a social landlord: 17.9% (London 23.1%); Census 2021

Sources

EICR pricing in Croydon

Fixed pricing by property size. The same prices apply in Croydon as across all other London boroughs — no London surcharge. The only location-based fee is the £20 Congestion Charge Zone addition for central London properties.

Prices are per property with one consumer unit and up to 12 circuits. See notes below for additional charges.

Domestic EICR — Croydon pricing

Description	Price
Studio ApartmentCheapest	£67.99Book
1–3 Bedrooms	£94.99Book
4 Bedrooms	£104.99Book
5 Bedrooms	£139.99Book
6 Bedrooms	£159.99Book
7 Bedrooms	£179.99Book
8 Bedrooms	£199.99Book

Additional charges (where applicable)

Parking charge if no free on-site parking is available: £10
Properties in the London Congestion Charge Zone: £20

Pricing notes

·Prices shown are for properties with one consumer unit (one fuse board). Most standard residential properties have one.
·Properties with more than one consumer unit — common in HMOs, converted flats, and larger houses — are charged an additional £49.99 per extra consumer unit. Your engineer confirms the number of consumer units on arrival.
·Each consumer unit covers up to 12 circuits. Installations with more than 12 circuits per consumer unit are charged an additional £10 per circuit above 12.

Want a detailed cost breakdown? See our full EICR cost guide →

What's included from £67.99

Every EICR we carry out in Croydon covers the complete fixed electrical installation at no extra cost beyond the price shown.

Visual inspection of all accessible wiring, sockets, switches and light fittings
Testing of all circuits for continuity, insulation resistance and polarity
RCD (residual current device) testing for all protective devices
Consumer unit check — type, condition, labelling and protective devices
Earthing and bonding arrangement check against BS 7671
NICEIC approved engineer — fully qualified and independently assessed
Signed EICR certificate emailed within 24 hours
Prioritised remedial recommendations with C1/C2/C3 classification

EICR Croydon — frequently asked questions

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EICR in nearby boroughs

We cover all 33 London boroughs. See EICR pricing and booking for areas near Croydon:

EICR Bromley

from £67.99 · BR3, BR2, BR5 …

EICR Sutton

from £67.99 · SM1, SM6, SM5 …

EICR Lambeth

from £67.99 · SW2, SW9, SW16 …

Book your EICR in Croydon

Book online in under 3 minutes. A NICEIC approved electrician confirms your appointment. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Same-week appointments across Croydon and all 33 London boroughs — or call 020 3996 1070.

Book EICR in Croydon — from £67.99

Fixed pricing. No hidden charges. NICEIC approved. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.