London council steps up landlord inspections

Wandsworth Council has intensified its efforts to check its licensed landlords and find unsafe homes.

Landlords in the borough must now apply for a licence before letting properties across several key areas.

So far, more than 3,400 applications have been received, which include around 1,900 for additional licensing and 1,500 for selective licensing.

Council officers have carried out more than 110 visits, serving more than 40 formal notices to landlords who failed to comply with safety standards.

Gold standard landlords

To encourage best landlord practice, the council has also introduced a ‘Gold Standard’ for those who go beyond the basic legal requirements.

The council’s cabinet member for housing, Aydin Dikerdem, 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.”

Breaches uncovered

Wandsworth says early inspections have uncovered a range of breaches, from fire safety failures to rooms that fall below minimum size requirements.

One property in Putney intended for three tenants was found with a bedroom too small to meet legal standards and without essential fire protection.

Officers demanded that the landlord install fire doors, alarms and remove obstructions along escape routes.

The landlord has since agreed to make the required changes.

Landlord penalties

Another case involved a two-storey house where a spiral staircase opened directly into the living room, posing a serious fire escape hazard.

Following consultation with the Fire Brigade, the council warned that the home could lose its HMO licence if structural changes were not made.

Elsewhere, a six-bedroom property with faulty basement doors and no fire doors was ordered to undertake urgent improvements.

The council is planning follow-up inspections to ensure that remedial work is completed to the correct standard.

It also warns that landlords who ignore the licensing rules risk prosecution or financial penalties of up to £30,000.

Tenants could also reclaim up to a year’s rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit if a landlord is found guilty of operating illegally.

Property118 commercial reality check

Local authorities are turning licensing into performance audits. The message is simple: professional landlords must now treat compliance as operational due diligence, not red tape. Regulation will keep tightening, but the disciplined operators who document, inspect and maintain before the council arrives will be the ones still trading confidently.

What serious landlords should do next

Audit and evidence safety systems. Keep a clear trail of fire risk assessments, room measurements, and electrical and gas certificates. Councils are no longer just checking paperwork; they are testing the standard of the property itself.

Benchmark your portfolio. Compare unit sizes, layouts and amenities against current HMO and selective licensing criteria. Use that data to identify which properties merit reinvestment, disposal, or conversion.

Plan capital expenditure like a business. Treat fire doors, alarms and structural upgrades as asset improvements, not expenses. A compliant and well-documented property commands stronger refinancing and resale leverage.

Advantage through professionalism

Landlords who structure their portfolios as businesses, with systems, governance, and contingency funding, turn compliance into a selling point. When others react to enforcement, professional operators already have audit packs ready and contractors on standby. That discipline builds market resilience and attracts higher-quality tenants.