News

Wandsworth Council cracking down on unlicensed private rented homes

Saturday, November 29th, 2025 - Wandsworth Council

Wandsworth Council is cracking down on unlicensed and poor quality private rented homes following the roll out of new additional and selective licensing schemes in July 2025.

Inspections by council housing officers have uncovered serious safety hazards and prompted swift action to protect tenants.

Since the launch of the borough-wide initiative in July 2025, Wandsworth Council has received over 3,400 licence applications, including more than 1,900 for additional licensing and over 1,500 for selective licensing.

To date, over 110 inspections have been caried out with over 40 legal notices served requiring landlords to carry out improvements to meet minimum safety standards.

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 carry out all improvements which will significantly reduce the fire risk.

A two-storey home with a spiral staircase open to the living room posed serious fire escape risks. The council consulted London Fire Brigade and warned the landlord that unless structural changes were made, the property could be deemed unsuitable for HMO use.

Another six-bedroom property lacked fire doors and had a faulty basement door near utility meters. The council ordered installation of compliant fire doors and removal of escape route obstructions.

Aydin Dikerdem, Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet member for Housing, said:

“These inspections show why licensing matters. The message is clear: unsafe rentals will not be tolerated. These new landlord licencing 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.”

Wandsworth Council have said they will continue to monitor compliance and carry out follow-up inspections to ensure all remedial works meet the required standards.

Landlords and managing agents operating without the correct licence can face prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court or a financial penalty of up to £30,000. Tenants may also be eligible to reclaim up to 12 months’ rent if the property is unlicensed.

Our free guide containing more information about property licensing and HMO planning restrictions in Wandsworth is available here.