Check if you need a property licence

On 1 July 2025, we are introducing selective and additional licensing schemes to help create a fairer private rented sector in Wandsworth.

There are three types of property licensing schemes that cover different types of privately rented properties.

Mandatory licence

Mandatory licensing is required for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

A home is an HMO if the house is occupied by three or more people from two or more households (families).

A home is a large HMO if both of the following apply:

• At least five tenants live there from two or more  households
• They share the toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants

Planning permission for HMOs

Having a valid property licence is not the same as having planning permission.

You need planning permission if you want to let your property as an HMO to seven or more people

See more information about applying for planning permission.

Additional licence

From 1 July 2025, additional licensing applies to HMOs that are not already covered by mandatory licensing.

This includes an HMO:

• Let to a maximum of four people with shared bathrooms or kitchens
• Flats in multiple occupation, in a purpose-built apartment block, with three or more flats

See the public notice on additional licensing across Wandsworth.

Selective licence

From 1 July 2025, selective licensing is needed by all other privately rented properties in our selective licensing delegations, not covered by mandatory or additional licensing.

Selective licensing designation Wandsworth wards include:

• Furzedown
• Tooting Bec
• Tooting Broadway
• South Balham

View our interactive map to check which postcode your property is in.

See the public notice on selective licensing in Furzedown, Tooting Bec, South Balham and Tooting Broadway.

How long a licence lasts

A property licence usually last for five years.

A licence is likely to be granted with a reduced term, usually one year, if:

• Planning permission is required for HMO use, or
• Planning permission has previously been refused

This will provide opportunity for the licence holder to obtain suitable planning permission or resolve the breach.

Who holds the licence

The licence holder is usually the person, people or company who has practical control of the property.

The licence holder collects rent, arranges repairs and manages the property.

The owner or manager of the property can be the licence holder.

Exemptions

There are exemptions in place for each type of property licence.

Mandatory and additional licensing

There are some types of buildings which are exempt from HMO licensing by law.

These include:

• Buildings controlled by public sector bodies (for example, housing associations)
• Some buildings occupied by students
• Some owner-occupied buildings

A full list of exemptions are outlined in the Housing Act 2004

The additional HMO scheme will not apply to certain converted flats or blocks, known as Section 257 HMOs (self-contained flats). However, if a converted block falls within the selective licensing designation, each individual flat within the block will require its own selective licence, unless it is otherwise exempt.

Selective licensing

There are some types of buildings which are exempt from selective licensing by law. A full list of exemptions are outlined in The Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006.

Temporary exemption notice (TEN)

If you rent out a property which requires a property licence but you intend to make the property one which will no longer require a licence, you may be able to apply for a temporary exemption notice.

A temporary exemption notice lasts three months and is not normally renewable. A maximum of two temporary exemption notices can be issued.

There is no facility to apply for additional or selective licences or TENs until 1 July 2025

Apply for a property licence

You will need to apply for a licence online. The application process will be announced soon.

View property licence fees and discounts.

The early bird discount for both selective and additional schemes will run from 1 July 2025 until 1 January 2026.

Contact

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact us at privatehousing@wandsworth.gov.uk.