Wandsworth Council in London says it is to carry out a review of the feasibility of introducing selective licensing of single household private rented homes and additional licensing of smaller multi occupancy properties in the borough.

The council says that the private rented sector now comprises nearly one third of the housing stock in the borough and that "whilst most [landlords] are responsible and upstanding, there exists a rogue landlord element that deliver substandard, and sometimes overcrowded and dangerous dwellings which has a knock on effect to the wider community ... " and that "the potential benefits of such a scheme could include: improvement in the condition and quality of properties in the private rented sector; the prevention of absentee or unfit landlords; increased responsibility required of landlords in the management of behaviour of their tenants; and increased support for tenants."

Cllr. Aydin Dikerdem, the council's Cabinet Member for Housing, said "As a council, we have a commitment to all of our residents to ensure that they are in safe, secure and well managed homes. That is why we are looking to increase support for tenants by recommending this review into discretionary licences in the Private Rented Sector."