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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Wandsworth Council has revealed how it is getting tough on landlords who’ve failed to meet its new licensing schemes' standards.
Since the launch of additional and selective licensing in July, the authority has received more than 3,400 applications, including more than 1,900 for additional licensing and more than 1,500 for selective licensing. It’s conducted more than 110 inspections so far, resulting in 40 formal notices served to landlords for failing to meet safety standards.
The selective scheme targets all rented homes in Balham South, Furzedown, Tooting Bec, and Tooting Broadway, costing landlords £850, while the additional HMO scheme costs £1,450. A second phase will include East Putney, West Putney and Northcote.
It reports that during the checks, a property in Putney intended for three tenants was found to have a dangerously undersized bedroom and lacked basic fire safety features, including fire doors and heat alarms. The council issued a legal notice requiring the installation of compliant fire doors, alarms, and removal of escape route obstructions. The landlord agreed to all improvements, significantly reducing fire risk.
A two-storey home with a spiral staircase open to the living room posed serious escape risks. The council consulted the Fire Brigade and warned the landlord that unless structural changes were made, the property could be deemed unfit for HMO licensing.
Aydin Dikerdem, cabinet member for housing, says these inspections show why licensing matters. “The message is clear: unsafe rentals will not be tolerated,” he adds. “These new landlord licensing schemes give us more robust powers to inspect and intervene in cases where landlords are not living up to their duties, providing renters with more support and protecting their rights.”
As part of the initiative, Wandsworth also has a new ‘Gold Standard’ to recognise and reward good landlords who exceed the basic legal and tenancy standards.
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