What Is Changing on April 1st 2026?

Wandsworth Council has confirmed that from April 1st 2026, private rented properties in the following wards will also need a selective licence:

• East Putney
• West Putney
• Northcote

The public notice states that all privately rented residential accommodation in the designated area must be licensed unless it falls within one of the statutory exemptions.

Which Properties are Affected?

The designation applies to a house let or occupied under a tenancy or licence within the Phase 2 area unless it is exempt. To be clear, if you rent out a property in East Putney, West Putney or Northcote, you need to check your licensing position properly rather than assume you are outside the scheme.

Important Exemptions Landlords Need to Understand

This is where a lot of people get caught out.

Not every rental property in the area falls under Selective Licensing Phase 2. The public notice lists several exemptions, including:

• properties requiring mandatory HMO licensing
• properties already covered by Wandsworth’s additional HMO licensing
• properties let by a registered social landlord
• properties subject to an Interim or Final Management Order
• properties with a temporary exemption
• other exempt tenancies or buildings under the relevant regulations.

That means landlords should not ask, “Is my property in Wandsworth?”
They should ask, “Is my property in one of the designated wards, and if so, which licensing scheme applies?”

Those are not the same question.

Why This Matters

Once the designation comes into force on the 1st of April 2026, operating a licensable property without a licence can trigger serious enforcement consequences. The notice warns that a person operating an unlicensed property may face prosecution and, in summary, a conviction, or an unlimited fine. 

From May, penalties will be increasing to £40,000 and the authority and/or tenant may seek a Rent Repayment Order for up to 24 months’ rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit

The council notice also states that:

• breaches of licence conditions can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 per breach
• the authority may make an Interim Management Order
• relevant offences may be added to the Greater London Authority Rogue Landlord and Agent Register unless there are valid reasons not to do so.

So no, this is not a minor admin issue. It is a compliance risk with financial, legal and reputational consequences.

What Landlords Should Do Now

If you own or manage a property in East Putney, West Putney or Northcote, the smart move is simple:

1. Check whether your property falls within the designated area

Do not rely on postcode guesswork or assumptions. You can use Yuno’s property licence checker tools to review whether your property falls within the Wandsworth Selective Licensing Phase 2 designation area.

2. Confirm which licence applies

Some properties will fall under selective licensing. Others may already require mandatory HMO or additional HMO licensing instead.

3. Get your paperwork in order

Landlords who leave this late usually create their own problems such as: missing certificates, incorrect ownership details, occupancy confusion, and delayed submissions.

4. Apply before non-compliance becomes your problem

From 1 April 2026, enforcement risk becomes real, not theoretical.

Why Landlords Get This Wrong

Most licensing failures are not caused by a lack of intelligence. They are caused by false assumptions:

• “It’s not an HMO, so I’m fine.”
• “It’s only a flat.”
• “I’ll sort it out if the council contacts me.”
• “My managing agent must have done it.”

Licensing responsibility does not disappear because you assumed someone else was handling it. If the property is licensable and no valid application is in place, the risk sits there whether you looked at it or not.

How Yuno Can Help

Yuno helps landlords, agents and property managers cut through the noise and deal with licensing properly.

We can help you:

• check whether your property is in the Phase 2 designation area
• identify whether you need a selective, mandatory HMO or additional HMO licence
• review your documents and compliance position
• reduce the risk of delays, rejected applications and enforcement action

If you would like our team’s support with your licence application, we can apply on your behalf or help you through the process. Feel free to book a free 15-minute call.