Floor Plan for Selective Licence in London: What to Include

If you are a landlord renting out a property in an area covered by a selective licensing scheme, you may need to provide a floor plan for a selective licence as part of your application.

A selective licence is different from an HMO licence. It can apply to privately rented properties in designated areas, even when the property is occupied by a single household. The exact licensing requirements depend on the local council and the particular licensing scheme.

A clear and accurate floor plan can help provide the council with the information it needs about the property’s layout, rooms and safety features.

London councils do not all request exactly the same information. For example, Harrow currently lists a floor plan among the documents needed for a selective licence application, while Croydon’s current selective licensing application also requires a floor plan.

What Is a Selective Licence?

Selective licensing is a property licensing system that can apply to privately rented homes in a designated area.

According to London City Hall, selective licensing can cover privately rented properties in a specific area. Whether a property requires a licence depends on the licensing scheme operating in the property’s location.

This means that landlords should not assume that every privately rented property in London requires a selective licence.

Before preparing an application, check whether your property’s postcode falls within a current selective licensing area.

The requirements can also change when a council introduces, extends or ends a licensing scheme.

Why Is a Floor Plan Needed for a Selective Licence?

A floor plan gives the council a visual representation of the property.

It can show:

The number of rooms
The location of bedrooms
Living areas
Kitchens
Bathrooms and WCs
Room sizes
Entrances and exits
Internal access
Stairs
Smoke alarms
Carbon monoxide detectors
Other features requested by the council

The exact information required depends on the local authority.

For example, Harrow currently lists a floor plan as one of the documents needed when applying for a selective licence.

Croydon’s current selective licensing guidance also lists a floor plan among the required documents and asks applicants to provide information about room sizes, location and facilities.

What Should a Selective Licence Floor Plan Include?

There is no single floor plan format that applies to every London council.

However, the following information is commonly useful when preparing a plan.

1. Every Floor of the Property

Show every relevant floor of the property.

For example:

Ground floor
First floor
Second floor
Basement
Loft area where applicable

If the property is a maisonette or a multi-storey house, make the relationship between the floors easy to understand.

A council officer should be able to see the complete layout without having to guess what areas are missing.

2. All Habitable Rooms

Clearly identify the habitable rooms.

Depending on the property, these may include:

Living room
Dining room
Bedroom 1
Bedroom 2
Bedroom 3
Kitchen
Study
Other relevant accommodation areas

Labelling rooms makes the plan easier to understand and can help the council compare the floor plan with the information provided in the application.

3. Room Dimensions

Room sizes may be important for a selective licensing application.

Some councils specifically request room-size information.

For example, the Harrow selective licensing application guidance asks for a floor plan, while its application materials include requirements concerning the property layout. Croydon’s current guidance also states that property information can include room sizes, location and facilities.

When measurements are required, make sure they are clear and readable.

Avoid using measurements that are difficult to identify or understand.

4. Kitchens and Facilities

The location of important facilities should be visible.

Depending on the council’s requirements, this may include:

Kitchen
Sink
Cooker
Bathroom
Shower
Bath
WC
Wash basin

A clear plan can help demonstrate how the facilities are arranged within the property.

5. Entrances and Exits

Show the main entrance to the property clearly.

Where relevant, identify other exits and access routes.

This is particularly useful for properties with:

Multiple entrances
Rear exits
Side entrances
Communal entrances
Separate access to different floors

The exact information required should always be checked against the relevant council’s current licensing guidance.

6. Stairs and Internal Access

If the property has more than one floor, show the stairs.

The floor plan should make it easy to understand how occupants move between floors.

Clearly showing stairs, hallways and landings can make a multi-storey property much easier to assess.

7. Smoke Alarms and Other Safety Features

Some selective licensing schemes require specific safety information to appear on the floor plan.

This can include:

Smoke alarms
Heat detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire exits
Fire doors
Emergency lighting

The requirements are not identical across London.

For example, Redbridge currently states that selective licensing floor plans should show fire exits and the position of smoke alarms and heat detectors.

Harrow also provides separate guidance and floor plan examples for selective licensing applications.

Do not add safety symbols simply because they appear on another council’s example. Check what your own local authority requires.

Selective Licence Floor Plan vs HMO Floor Plan

It is important not to automatically use HMO licensing requirements when preparing a selective licence application.

A mandatory HMO licence, additional HMO licence and selective licence are different types of property licensing.

London City Hall currently identifies these as three separate property licensing categories.

A selective licence can apply to privately rented properties in a designated area, while HMO licensing relates to properties meeting particular HMO criteria.

The floor plan requirements can therefore differ.

If your property is not an HMO, do not assume that an HMO floor plan template is automatically appropriate for your selective licence application.

Does Every London Rental Property Need a Selective Licence?

No.

Selective licensing applies only where a council has introduced a relevant selective licensing scheme.

The property may also fall under another licensing category or be exempt depending on the circumstances.

London City Hall provides a property licensing service that allows landlords and tenants to check whether a rented property falls within a licensing scheme.

Because licensing schemes can change, check the current council information before submitting an application.

What Other Documents May Be Needed?

A floor plan is usually only one part of the application.

The documents required depend on the council.

For example, Harrow currently lists the following for a selective licence application:

Floor plan
Gas safety certificate, where applicable
Electrical safety certificate
EPC
Tenancy agreement
Anti-social behaviour plan

Croydon’s current selective licensing application also lists an EPC, EICR, floor plan and other application information among its requirements.

This is why it is useful to prepare your property documents before starting the application.

You can also read our EPC Documents You Need When Selling or Renting in London guide for information about preparing EPC-related documents.

How to Prepare a Floor Plan for a Selective Licence

Preparing the plan does not have to be complicated if you follow the council’s requirements.

Step 1: Check Your Property’s Licensing Area

First, confirm whether your property is inside a selective licensing area.

Use your local council’s current property licensing information.

Step 2: Check the Council’s Floor Plan Requirements

Read the application guidance carefully.

Look for requirements relating to:

Room dimensions
Room names
Facilities
Entrances
Exits
Fire safety
Alarms
Detectors

Step 3: Check Your Existing Floor Plan

If you already have a floor plan, compare it with the current property.

Do not rely on an old plan if the property has been altered.

Step 4: Measure the Required Areas

Take accurate measurements where the council asks for them.

Make sure measurements are easy to read.

Step 5: Add Required Safety Features

If your council requires alarms, detectors, fire doors or exits to be shown, mark them clearly.

Step 6: Label the Rooms

Make sure the use of each room is obvious.

Step 7: Check the Final Plan

Compare the completed floor plan with the council’s current application guidance before uploading or submitting it.

Common Selective Licence Floor Plan Mistakes

A few simple mistakes can make an otherwise useful floor plan difficult to assess.

Using an Outdated Plan

If walls have been removed, rooms have been added or the layout has changed, update the plan.

Missing Rooms

Every relevant room should be represented.

Unclear Measurements

If dimensions are required, make sure they are readable.

Missing Safety Features

If the council specifically asks for smoke alarms, heat detectors or other safety features, include them.

Using the Wrong Licensing Template

An HMO floor plan and selective licensing floor plan may have different requirements.

Always use the guidance provided by the council responsible for your property.

Assuming One London Council’s Rules Apply Everywhere

London is not governed by one single selective licensing floor plan format.

Requirements can vary between boroughs.

For example, Redbridge specifies certain safety features on selective licence floor plans, while Harrow provides its own application guidance and floor plan examples.

Can an Existing Property Floor Plan Be Used?

Potentially, yes.

If you already have a professional floor plan for your property, check whether it contains everything required for the selective licence application.

You may need to add additional information.

For example, a property marketing floor plan may show rooms and dimensions but not show smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors.

If the council asks for those details, they should be added according to its guidance.

Can a Marketing Floor Plan Be Used for Licensing?

A marketing floor plan and a licensing floor plan have different purposes.

A marketing floor plan is primarily designed to help prospective buyers or tenants understand the property’s layout.

A licensing floor plan provides information to a local authority.

A marketing plan may therefore need additional details before it can be used for licensing.

If you are preparing a property for both rental marketing and licensing, it can be useful to have a clear floor plan that can be adapted for the relevant purposes.

Selective Licensing and EPCs

A floor plan is not an EPC.

An Energy Performance Certificate provides information about the energy efficiency of a property, while a floor plan shows its physical layout.

However, both documents can be relevant when preparing a rental property.

Some councils request an EPC as part of a selective licensing application. Harrow and Croydon, for example, currently include an EPC among their application requirements.

If you need a new EPC, you can read our EPC Checklist for Landlords before arranging the assessment.

You can also check our EPC Pricing page for current service options.

Can You Arrange a Floor Plan With an EPC?

Yes. If you are preparing a rental property, arranging several property services together can be convenient.

EPC Rate London provides professional floor plan and property photography services, with the option to enquire about combined EPC, floor plan and property photography services.

You can book or enquire about floor plan services and provide the property details and your requirements.

Selective Licence Floor Plan Checklist

Before submitting your application, check the following:

Final Thoughts

A floor plan for a selective licence should provide a clear picture of the property’s current layout and include the information requested by the relevant local authority.

The most important point is to check the requirements for your property’s specific council and licensing scheme. Selective licensing requirements can differ between London boroughs, and schemes can change over time.

If you are preparing a rental property, it can also be useful to organise your EPC and floor plan at the same time.

For professional floor plans, EPCs and property photography, you can contact EPC Rate London to discuss your requirements.

For official information about property licensing in London, check London City Hall’s property licensing guidance and your local council’s current selective licensing requirements.