Flats to Rent in Croydon

Renting in Croydon

Croydon is a large south London borough that runs from Norbury, Thornton Heath and South Norwood in the north, through Croydon town centre, to Purley, Coulsdon and Sanderstead on the edge of the North Downs. On the ONS measure in the table above, its average rent is below the London average. Council tax is not: Band D is £2,599.91 in 2026/27, the second highest in London after Kingston, against a London average of £2,068 (MHCLG). Budget for it, especially in a house.

Croydon also licenses private landlords. From 25 September 2026, a selective licensing scheme covers 14 of the borough's 28 wards, mostly in the north and centre, with some in the south (among them Addiscombe East and West, Norbury Park, Selhurst, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, West Thornton and South Croydon), and an additional HMO licensing scheme covers the whole borough. The council's website lists the wards and which homes need a licence.

The neighbourhoods

Croydon town centre

The town centre has the Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres (the area around them is due to be redeveloped), Boxpark by East Croydon station, and Fairfield Halls, the concert hall and theatre, which reopened in 2019. East Croydon is one of the busiest stations outside central London, with Southern and Thameslink trains to Victoria, London Bridge, the City and Gatwick. West Croydon has the Overground's Windrush line, and trams run through the centre. Much of the rental stock is new flats, including in converted office blocks, around the two stations.

Thornton Heath, Norbury and Selhurst

The north of the borough is mostly Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many split into flats, with busy high streets and large Caribbean, African and South Asian communities. Thornton Heath, Norbury and Selhurst stations have Southern trains to Victoria and London Bridge. Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace's football ground, is in South Norwood, and match days bring crowds. These are usually among Croydon's cheaper areas.

South Norwood and Upper Norwood

South Norwood, around Norwood Junction station (Overground Windrush line and Southern), has Victorian streets and South Norwood Country Park, a former sewage farm turned nature reserve. Upper Norwood, up the hill, is part of the Crystal Palace area, where five boroughs meet; the park itself is over the boundary in Bromley. Crystal Palace's triangle of independent shops and restaurants is shared between the boroughs.

Addiscombe and Shirley

East of the centre, Addiscombe and Shirley are residential areas of Victorian and inter-war houses; Addiscombe is on the tram line to Beckenham and Elmers End. Addington Hills, on the eastern edge, has heath, pine woods and a viewing platform over London. These are family areas close to the town centre.

South Croydon, Purley and Sanderstead

South of the centre, South Croydon has Victorian and Edwardian houses along the Brighton Road and Lloyd Park to its east. Further south, Purley and Sanderstead are hilly suburbs of large inter-war and detached houses, with stations on the Southern lines to Victoria and London Bridge. Homes here are mostly houses, and these are among the borough's more expensive areas.

Coulsdon and New Addington

Coulsdon, in the far south, borders the North Downs, with Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, chalk grassland managed by the City of London, on its doorstep, and Coulsdon South and Coulsdon Town stations. New Addington, in the south-east, is a large inter-war and post-war estate at the end of the tram line to central Croydon. Both are family areas with more houses than flats.

Getting around

Croydon has no Tube. East Croydon is the hub, with frequent Southern and Thameslink trains to Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars and Gatwick, and many more stations across the borough have Southern trains. The Overground's Windrush line runs from West Croydon and Norwood Junction through Sydenham to Canada Water, Shoreditch and Highbury. The tram, London's only tram network, runs from Wimbledon through Croydon town centre to Beckenham, Elmers End and New Addington. Check a specific commute on the TfL Journey Planner before you sign.

Schools

State secondaries include Harris academies in several parts of the borough, Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School, Coloma Convent Girls' School (Catholic, girls), St Joseph's College and Riddlesdown Collegiate. The borough also has several independent schools, including Whitgift School, Trinity School, Old Palace of John Whitgift School (girls) and Royal Russell School. Faith and independent schools set their own admissions rules, and popular primaries can have small distance catchments, so read each school's admissions criteria and its latest Ofsted report before choosing a street for a school.

Parks and open space

Croydon has a lot of open space, especially in the south: Lloyd Park, Addington Hills, Selsdon Wood, Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, and Kenley Common. In the north, South Norwood Country Park, Norwood Grove and Wandle Park serve the more built-up areas.

Safety

Crime concentrates in the town centre, especially around North End, West Croydon and at night, and around the busiest stations and high streets in the north of the borough. The southern suburbs are generally quieter. For a specific street, the police's crime map at police.uk shows reported crime month by month.

Who it suits

Croydon suits people who work near Victoria, London Bridge or the City and want a fast train from East Croydon; people who travel often from Gatwick; and families who want houses, gardens and hills in the south of the borough. It suits people less well if they need the Tube, want inner London nightlife close by, or are renting a larger house on a tight budget, given its council tax.

Useful links

Croydon Council: croydon.gov.uk (council tax, licensing, school admissions)
Crime by street: police.uk
Journeys: tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey
Fairfield Halls: fairfield.co.uk

The listings above are homes and rooms advertised by their landlords in Croydon now. Check how far each one is from East Croydon or another station, and whether it is in a selective licensing ward.