Wandsworth Council’s new landlord licensing schemes starting soon

Saturday, June 21st, 2025 - Wandsworth Council

With over a third of Wandsworth residents renting their home from a private landlord, Wandsworth Council is introducing new landlord licencing schemes to try and drive up standards in the private rented sector. 

New additional and selective licensing schemes are coming into force on 1 July 2025 and landlords can submit licence applications from that date. 

A borough-wide additional licencing will apply to properties occupied by three or more people who are from two or more households. There is also a selective licensing scheme that will extend licensing to all private rented homes in the Furzedown, South Balham, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway council wards. 

These new licensing schemes are intended to provide robust protections for tenants as part of the council’s commitment to renters across the borough. The council have said private landlords will be required to meet their standards on issues such as health and safety, living conditions and room sizes. The council will also check to ensure landlords are protecting tenancy deposits in a government-approved scheme.

If landlords and agents do not apply once the licensing schemes come into force, the council may start a criminal prosecution or issue a civil financial penalty of up to £30,000 for each breach. Tenants may be eligible to reclaim up to 12 months’ rent if the landlord has not applied for the correct licence.  

Aydin Dikerdem, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said:

“Wandsworth has one of the highest proportions of renters in the country. Yet many don’t know who they can turn to if things start to go wrong. Our new licensing scheme will give the council more robust powers to inspect and intervene in cases where landlords are not living up to their duties.

“This will help us to crack down on rogue landlords, while providing renters with more support and protecting their fundamental rights.”

More information on the schemes can be found on the council’s website.

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

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