Wandsworth Licence Conditions and Inspections: What the Council Checks

Conditions Attached to Every Licence

When Wandsworth grants a property licence, it comes with two sets of conditions: statutory mandatory conditions set by the Housing Act 2004, and local standard conditions added by the council.

Breaching a licence condition can be a separate offence carrying a civil penalty of up to £40,000 for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, so understanding exactly what's required matters as much as getting the licence in the first place.

Mandatory Statutory Conditions

These apply to every licence type — selective, additional HMO, and mandatory HMO:

• Annual gas safety certificate — a current Gas Safe certificate covering all gas appliances must be renewed every 12 months and supplied to tenants within 28 days
• Electrical installation safety — the fixed installation and all supplied electrical appliances must be kept in safe condition (backed by a valid EICR)
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms — working smoke alarms on every storey, carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel or gas appliances
• Written tenancy terms — you must supply occupiers with a written statement of their tenancy terms within 7 days of a request
• Refuse storage — suitable facilities for storing and disposing of household waste

HMO-Specific Conditions

Additional and mandatory HMO licences carry extra management duties under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. These cover:

• Maintaining communal areas, staircases, and fire escape routes in clean, safe condition
• Keeping communal fixtures, fittings, and appliances in good working order
• Maintaining water supply and drainage
• Providing adequate fire precautions
• Displaying the licence holder's name, address, and telephone number in a prominent position within the property

For Section 257 converted blocks, the separate 2007 regulations (SI 2007/1903) apply instead.

Occupancy Limits and Room Sizes

The licence specifies the maximum number of occupants and the maximum number of households allowed in the property. Exceeding either limit is a licence condition breach.

For HMOs, statutory minimum bedroom sizes apply:

Floor space where the ceiling height is below 1.5 metres is excluded from the usable area calculation. Where the council identifies an undersized bedroom, they impose a condition requiring you to stop re-letting that room once the current tenancy ends.

What Happens During an Inspection

Wandsworth Housing Officers inspect licensed properties either before issuing a draft licence or during the five-year licence term. They evaluate the property against the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), looking for Category 1 hazards (serious, requiring mandatory action) and Category 2 hazards (less serious, discretionary action).

In practice, officers check:

• That the property matches the floor plan submitted with the application
• Room measurements against statutory minimums
• Fire detection and alarm systems are functional
• Escape routes are clear and usable
• Gas and electrical certificates are current
• General property condition — damp, structural issues, heating adequacy

The council may contact you to arrange an inspection appointment. Having your compliance documents organised — current certificates, the floor plan, and a record of any maintenance carried out — makes the process smoother.

The Draft and Final Licence Process

After the council reviews your application and (if scheduled) inspects the property, they issue a Draft Licence Notice setting out proposed conditions, occupancy limits, and licence duration. You have 14 calendar days to submit written representations if you disagree with anything.

After considering representations, the council issues the Final Licence Notice alongside the Part B fee invoice. If you disagree with the final decision, you have 28 calendar days to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Informal emails to the council don't pause or extend that deadline.

The Wandsworth Landlord Licensing guide includes a 5-year compliance calendar converting all these conditions into a dated maintenance schedule, so nothing falls through the cracks between grant and renewal.

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