Wandsworth landlords should use the council's current address checker rather than an old report about a proposed consultation. Additional and selective property licensing started on 1 July 2025, and selective licensing expanded again in April 2026.
Which scheme applies?
The council lists Furzedown, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway and South Balham under the first selective designation. East Putney, West Putney and Northcote were added under the second designation from April 2026. Selective licensing concerns privately rented homes in those areas that are not covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing.
Additional licensing covers HMOs outside the mandatory scheme, including qualifying smaller shared homes. Do not decide solely from the number of bedrooms: establish how many people and households occupy the property and which facilities they share.
[Use Wandsworth's licensing guidance and map](https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/private-rented-property-licences/property-licence-check/).
Check unusual buildings carefully
The council's frequently asked questions state that section 257 HMOs, meaning certain buildings converted into self-contained flats, are not covered by its additional licensing scheme. That does not answer every question about the individual flats or other licensing requirements. Ask the council about the actual layout, occupation and address if the category is unclear.
[Read the council's licensing questions and answers](https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/private-rented-property-licences/property-licences-faq/).
Keep planning and licensing separate
A property licence is not planning permission. A purchaser should therefore request both the licensing documents and the relevant planning history, rather than treating one as evidence of the other. Ask the conveyancer to identify any gap before exchange, and clarify what the proposed use will be after completion.
For an existing letting, a useful management file contains the licence, conditions, expiry date and the person responsible for each action. Compare the permitted occupation with the actual arrangement whenever tenants change. Retain council correspondence so that a future manager can understand the decision.
The practical point is to check the current scheme for a specific home. A borough name, old consultation headline or agent's description alone cannot establish compliance. Information checked on 6 November 2026; obtain property-specific advice where needed.