Landlord licensing in Wandsworth: does your property need a licence?
Additional HMO licensing is borough-wide and selective licensing covers named wards. Start with the address, occupation and council checker before deciding which application applies.
Which licence applies to your property
Two schemes are borough-wide; selective licensing follows named ward boundaries. Exemptions and accommodation type still need checking.
Additional HMO licensing
HMOs not already covered by mandatory licensing, generally involving three or four people from two or more households
1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030
The designation is borough-wide and can also cover certain flats in converted or purpose-built blocks. Check the council definition and exemptions against the actual occupation.
Selective licensing — designation 1
Other privately rented homes in the designated wards, subject to statutory exemptions
1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030
A family let or other non-HMO private tenancy may require a selective licence if the address is inside the designation and no exemption applies.
Selective licensing — designation 2
Other privately rented homes in the designated wards, subject to statutory exemptions
1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
This designation has applied since 1 April 2026. Confirm the ward and exemption position on the council checker rather than relying on the postal district.
Mandatory HMO licensing
Any HMO with five or more occupants forming more than one household
Ongoing national requirement
This applies everywhere in England and is not time-limited.
Designations follow ward boundaries. Confirm your address and the current fee on Wandsworth Council’s property licensing pages. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.
Putney landlords: the early-bird discount ends 1 October 2026
Selective licensing came into force across East Putney, Northcote and West Putney on 1 April 2026, and Wandsworth is reducing the first part of the licence fee for applications made before 1 October 2026. If you let a property in one of those wards, applying before the deadline costs less than applying after it — and the property is licensable either way. Check the current fee and discount on the council’s fees page.
Why the licensing position needs resolving
Enforcement, rent repayment and possession consequences depend on the offence, evidence and current procedure.
A rent repayment order may be available
Where the statutory conditions are met, a tenant or council may apply for a rent repayment order. The tribunal decides liability and amount on the evidence, subject to the current statutory maximum.
Civil enforcement or prosecution
Operating a licensable property without the required licence can be an offence. The council may investigate and can use prosecution or a civil financial penalty as permitted by current law.
Possession and management consequences
Licensing defects can affect possession procedure and may lead to licence conditions, remedial work or management action. Obtain advice on the property-specific position before serving notice.
What a licensing review and application scope covers
We separate the initial address check, council application, remedial work and ongoing condition tracking so responsibilities are clear.
We check the ward boundary, not the postcode
Designations follow ward lines, which cut across postcodes. We check the council map and occupation information, then identify what still needs confirmation from Wandsworth.
We record households, occupants and facilities
Additional and mandatory HMO tests depend on the number of people, households and accommodation type. We record those facts rather than treating a postcode or bedroom count as the answer.
Application support is agreed in writing
Where included in the signed scope, we can assemble information and submit an application as authorised. The council decides whether to grant it and may impose property-specific conditions.
Conditions have named owners and dates
For managed properties, the agreement records who supplies documents, arranges work, pays fees and tracks each condition or renewal date.
Not sure whether your property is caught?
Send us the address and occupation details. We will make an initial council-map check, identify the likely scheme and explain what still needs verification. Wandsworth makes the final licensing decision.
Wandsworth landlord licensing questions
The questions landlords in Tooting, Balham and Putney ask us most often.
Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Wandsworth?
It depends on the address, number of occupants, number of households, accommodation type and any exemption. Additional HMO licensing is borough-wide for HMOs not already mandatorily licensed. Other private lets may need selective licensing in Furzedown, South Balham, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, East Putney, Northcote or West Putney. Use Wandsworth's checker for the final position.
Does selective licensing apply in Putney?
Yes, since 1 April 2026. Wandsworth's second selective licensing designation covers East Putney, Northcote and West Putney, and runs to 31 March 2031. It applies to ordinary lets to a single household or two unrelated sharers, so many Putney landlords who have never needed a licence now do.
Is there a discount for applying early?
Wandsworth is running an early-bird reduction on the first part of the selective licence fee for the 2026 designation, and it expires on 1 October 2026. The council publishes the current fee and the exact discount on its own website — take the figures from there, as they are reviewed periodically.
My property is in Tooting — am I caught?
The answer depends on the borough, ward and occupation. Within Wandsworth, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway are selective licensing wards, while a property occupied as an HMO is assessed under mandatory or additional licensing. Check the precise address because Tooting also crosses a borough boundary.
What if I only let one property?
Licensing is assessed per property. A landlord with one former home can still need a licence if the address and occupation fall within a scheme and no exemption applies.
Do you handle licensing for landlords you manage?
Where licensing administration is included in the signed management scope, we can check the information supplied, prepare and submit an authorised application and track agreed conditions. The landlord remains responsible for accurate information, fees and any work allocated to them, and Wandsworth makes the licensing decision.
Scheme dates reflect Wandsworth’s current designations. Councils vary fees and boundaries over time — always confirm against Wandsworth Council before acting. Letting in Merton instead? See our Merton landlord licensing guide.
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