Wandsworth Council Fines Landlords for EPC Breaches 2026

Key Points

• Wandsworth Council has launched enforcement action against landlords renting properties failing minimum energy efficiency standards, targeting around 550 non-compliant properties in the borough.
• Focus is on properties with Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of F or G, banned under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations.
• Landlords breaching rules face fines up to £5,000, with public naming possible in serious cases.
• Over 150 landlords contacted since the programme began, with compliance checks initiated.
• Five financial penalties issued so far, alongside increased improvement works by property owners.
• Specific case: Battersea property with G rating led to £4,000 fine after managing agents claimed tenant responsibility for upgrades.
• Specific case: Balham landlord fined maximum £5,000 for ignoring compliance notice and failing to complete works.
• Aydin Dikerdem, Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, highlighted positive impact on residents in cold, inefficient homes.

Wandsworth (South London News) February 16, 2026 – Wandsworth Council has cracked down on landlords letting substandard properties, issuing fines for breaches of energy efficiency rules affecting hundreds of homes. Approximately 550 properties in the borough are estimated to fall short of legal minimums, prompting a targeted enforcement drive under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations. Properties with EPC ratings of F or G are prohibited from rental, with penalties up to £5,000 and potential public shaming for repeat offenders.

What Triggered Wandsworth Council’s Enforcement Action?

The council’s initiative stems from longstanding national regulations requiring private rented properties to achieve at least an EPC rating of E since 2020, extended to F and G by subsequent updates. Wandsworth officers identified non-compliance through routine checks and tenant reports, focusing on the borough’s private rental sector where energy poverty affects vulnerable households.

As part of this drive, more than 150 landlords have been contacted to verify compliance, marking the formal start of the enforcement programme.

This proactive stance aligns with broader UK government efforts to decarbonise housing stock amid rising energy costs and net-zero targets.

Council data indicates a significant uptick in voluntary improvements following initial warnings, suggesting the threat of fines is prompting action. Enforcement prioritises properties where tenants endure poor insulation, draughts, and high bills, often in older Victorian or interwar housing stock prevalent across Wandsworth.

Which Properties Are Targeted in This Crackdown?

Non-compliant rentals are those holding EPC ratings of F or G, denoting the poorest energy performance levels.

These certificates, valid for 10 years, assess factors like insulation, heating systems, glazing, and renewable installations. Under MEES, landlords must not let such properties without exemptions, which are rare and time-limited, requiring proof of impossibility for upgrades.

Wandsworth’s estimate of 550 affected properties underscores a borough-wide issue, particularly in areas like Battersea, Balham, Clapham Junction, and Tooting where rental demand is high.

Tenants in these homes face legal protections, including rights to withhold rent or seek council intervention until standards improve. The council emphasises that EPCs are mandatory for new tenancies or renewals, closing loopholes exploited by some owners.

What Penalties Do Breaching Landlords Face?

Financial penalties cap at £5,000 per offence, civil sanctions issued by council officers without court involvement. In egregious cases, the council may publish offenders’ details online, deterring evasion through public scrutiny. Repeat breaches could escalate to criminal prosecution, though current actions remain administrative.

To date, five penalties have been levied, reflecting measured but firm enforcement. Landlords receive initial compliance notices outlining required works, such as cavity wall insulation, boiler replacements, or solar panels, with timelines for evidence submission. Non-response triggers fines, recoverable as civil debt if unpaid.

What Are the Details of Specific Enforcement Cases?

In a notable Battersea incident, a G-rated property prompted a £4,000 penalty after managing agents argued upgrades were the tenant’s duty—a claim dismissed under MEES landlord responsibilities. The case highlights confusion over agency roles, with the council clarifying owners retain ultimate liability regardless of delegation.

Similarly, a Balham landlord copped the full £5,000 fine for stonewalling a compliance notice and neglecting mandated improvements.

These examples, drawn from council records, serve as cautionary tales amid rising enforcement. Officers note both properties now undergo retrofits, benefiting residents previously enduring sub-zero indoor temperatures during winters.

How Has the Enforcement Programme Progressed?

Since launch, contact with over 150 landlords has yielded compliance checks on dozens of addresses. Beyond the five fines, numerous owners have commissioned EPC reassessments and upgrades, averting penalties. Wandsworth reports a “marked increase” in improvement works, crediting early interventions with shifting behaviour.

Field officers conduct site visits, review EPC databases, and cross-reference tenancy records via the council’s housing portal.

Partnerships with energy advice charities provide landlords guidance on grants like the Great British Insulation Scheme or ECO4 funding, softening financial blows for legitimate cases. Progress tracking continues, with quarterly updates planned for public transparency.

What Do Council Officials Say About the Impact?

Aydin Dikerdem, Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, stated: “Our enforcement work is already making a real difference for residents who have been living in cold, inefficient homes for far too long. No one should be renting a property that fails to meet even the basic legal standards for energy efficiency.”​

Dikerdem’s comments, issued via council press release, underscore tenant welfare amid the cost-of-living crisis. He praised voluntary compliance while vowing no leniency for

“rogue landlords exploiting vulnerable families.”

The cabinet member’s oversight ensures housing policy integrates with climate goals, positioning Wandsworth as a leader in south London.

Why Do EPC Breaches Persist in Wandsworth?

Older housing stock, comprising 19th-century terraces and 1930s flats, poses upgrade challenges due to leasehold complexities and high upfront costs. Some landlords cite EPC inaccuracies or exemption eligibility, though approvals are stringent. Economic pressures, including 8% rental voids from regulation fears, deter investment without subsidies.

National context reveals 10% of England’s private rentals below E-rated standards pre-crackdown, per government stats. Wandsworth’s proactive approach contrasts with slower boroughs, driven by local data showing 20% higher fuel poverty rates in F/G homes. Tenants, often low-income migrants or families, bear disproportionate burdens, fuelling council urgency.

How Can Landlords Avoid Fines Moving Forward?

Owners should commission fresh EPCs via accredited assessors, listed on government portals, prioritising high-risk properties. Improvement roadmaps, submitted post-notice, detail phased works with timelines and costs. Grants cover up to 80% for eligible low-income landlord-tenant pairs, reclaimable via energy suppliers.

The council offers free advice clinics and partners with RetrofitWorks for assessments. Digital tools like the EPC Checker benchmark properties, while MEES guidance clarifies exemptions for listed buildings or technical barriers. Compliance not only dodges fines but boosts rental yields by 5-10% through lower tenant bills and green credentials.

What Broader Implications Does This Hold for Tenants and the Borough?

Residents gain warmer, cheaper homes, reducing NHS strain from cold-related illnesses—costing £1.5 billion annually UK-wide. Enforcement elevates Wandsworth’s rental quality, attracting professionals amid housing shortages. Environmentally, upgrades curb 10% of borough emissions from substandard stock.

Critics, including landlord associations, warn of unintended rent hikes passed to tenants, though council caps exist. Success here could model enforcement for neighbouring Lambeth and Southwark, harmonising south London standards. Long-term, EPC C mandates by 2030 loom, spurring preemptive action.

How Does This Fit National Energy Policy Trends?

MEES forms part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda, with £4 billion pledged for social housing retrofits. Parallel initiatives like the Warm Homes Plan target private sectors, mirroring Wandsworth’s model. President Trump’s US administration, post-2025 inauguration, influences global energy debates, but UK policy remains devolved and robust.

Wandsworth’s fines align with 2,500+ penalties issued nationally last year, per DLUHC figures. This localised push amplifies calls for mandatory EPCs on all rentals, debated in Westminster. As February 2026 unfolds, councils face Ofgem scrutiny on enforcement metrics, ensuring accountability.