Wandsworth Council is making comprehensive changes to its landlord licensing criteria following a consultation that it says will ‘drive up standards and improve protections for renters’.

Aydin Dikerdem (pictured), Cabinet Member for Housing, claims it will give the council more robust powers to tackle rogue landlords.

The changes come into effect on 1 July, when the already mandatory licensing for larger HMOs with five or more tenants will be extended to include smaller ones with three to four people who share facilities.

At the same time, it is introducing a new selective licensing scheme for privately rented properties in four of its wards – Furzedown, South Balham, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway. Landlords who fail to obtain the correct licenses will face fines of up to £30,000.

Wandsworth has one of the highest proportions of renters in the country.”

Dikerdem says: “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.”

Private landlords in the designated areas will be required to meet set standards on health and safety, living conditions and room sizes. They will also have to protect deposits in Government-backed schemes, with the council promising to conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Growing trend

The changes are part of a growing trend, with councils up and down the country introducing ever-tighter controls over the PRS.

Dikerdem claims the scheme will “help us to crack down on rogue landlords while providing renters with more support and protecting their fundamental rights.”

The council has already shown its willingness to enforce the rules. Recent prosecutions include a £21,076 rent repayment order for an unlicensed HMO and a £43,000 fine for an HMO planning breach.