Wandsworth council in London is claiming that a new borough-wide licensing initiative started in July has been hugely successful.
It claims that it has received over 3,400 licence applications, including more than 1,900 for Additional Licensing and over 1,500 for Selective Licensing. Already, more than 110 inspections have taken place, resulting in over 40 formal notices served to landlords failing to meet safety standards.
The licensing scheme targets all HMOs and Private Rented Sector properties in Balham South, Furzedown, Tooting Bec, and Tooting Broadway.
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 all improvements, significantly reducing fire risk.
A two-storey home with a spiral staircase open to the living room posed serious escape risks. The council consulted the Fire Brigade and warned the landlord that unless structural changes were made, the property could be deemed unfit for HMO licensing.
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.
A council spokesperson says: “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.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today