East Putney, West Putney and Northcote licensing: what landlords need to check before the October discount deadline
If you let a property in East Putney, West Putney or Northcote, you may now need a selective licence. Wandsworth Council’s second selective licensing designation came into force on 1 April 2026 and is due to run until 31 March 2031, unless revoked earlier.
The early bird discount for this second designation runs from 1 April 2026 to 1 October 2026. Apply in that window and you can reduce the first part of the selective licence fee. Miss it, and you may pay the full fee.
The first job is simple: check whether your property sits inside one of the three wards using the council’s licensing checker. Letting a licensable property without the right licence can lead to prosecution, an unlimited fine, a civil penalty of up to £30,000, and a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent.
Who needs a licence?
Selective licensing applies to privately rented homes in the designated wards unless an exemption applies. In practice, this catches many ordinary private rentals that are let to a single household or to two unrelated sharers.
Larger shared houses may fall under mandatory or additional HMO licensing instead, so you should not assume one licence type covers every property. If you are unsure whether your property is a selective licensing case or an HMO case, check before applying.
That distinction matters because the rules for rented homes are moving towards tighter regulation. Our guide to what the Renters' Rights Act means for Wandsworth landlords explains the wider direction of travel.
The scheme is not borough-wide. Properties in East Putney, West Putney and Northcote are in this second designation, while other Wandsworth areas may follow different licensing rules or earlier scheme dates. If you own more than one rental property, map each address separately.
For context on why investors still look closely at the area despite the extra admin, read our guides to Wandsworth as a long-term property investment and the rental yields Wandsworth landlords are actually earning.
The October deadline and what it costs
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wards covered | East Putney, West Putney and Northcote |
| Scheme start date | 1 April 2026 |
| Expected end date | 31 March 2031 |
| Early bird discount window | 1 April 2026 to 1 October 2026 |
| Selective licence fee | £885 per property, made up of Part A at £529 and Part B at £356 |
| Early bird saving | £159 off Part A, equal to 30% |
| Main enforcement risk | Prosecution, an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £30,000 |
| Rent repayment order risk | Up to 12 months’ rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit |
Fees and discounts can change, so confirm the current figure on Wandsworth Council’s site before you budget. The early bird discount is only one of several possible discounts, but discounts may be lost if the council has to request missing documents twice or has already served a warning letter for failure to license.
Building the fee into your rental numbers early is sensible. Our guide to maximising rental income on a Wandsworth property can help you review the wider position.
What to have ready before you apply
Gather your documents before you start. Missing paperwork is one of the easiest ways to delay an application. You will usually need a valid Gas Safety Certificate where gas appliances are present, an Electrical Installation Condition Report, a current Energy Performance Certificate, a floor plan that meets the council’s requirements, and evidence that you own or manage the property.
Check expiry dates now. A gas certificate or EICR that lapses during the process can create avoidable work. It is also worth reviewing energy performance at the same time, especially if you are already thinking about getting your buy-to-let ready for EPC C.
If you are still deciding whether to hold, expand or sell in the area, our comparison of where to rent across Wandsworth, Clapham and Battersea explains how tenant demand differs locally.
If compliance costs are making you consider selling, you can review current properties for sale in Wandsworth. If you want to grow your portfolio instead, you can register as a buyer. Commercial landlords should check separate routes for commercial property to let and commercial premises for sale.
If you would rather not handle licensing and compliance yourself, speak to Lets Find A Home. We can check whether your property needs a licence and help you get the application moving before 1 October 2026.
Click here to schedule an appointment with Matt, founder of Lets Find A Home