Wandsworth Council orders end to short-term lets at 113 Gassiot Road

Wandsworth Council has secured agreement to take enforcement action against a family home in Tooting Bec used for unauthorised short-term holiday lets. The council's Planning Committee unanimously voted on 22 October 2026 to pursue action against 113 Gassiot Road.

Investigators found the property listed on short-term letting websites, including Airbnb and Booking.com, with individual bedrooms offered to paying guests. Evidence gathered by council officers indicated the property had been used for short stays for more than 90 nights between January and August 2026. This exceeds the 90-night allowance permitted for short-term letting of homes in London without specific planning permission.

Read Next in News London3 min read

Wandsworth Council allocates £30,000 for John Archer statue

Decision to fund monument to London's first Black mayor comes as council tax rise is proposed.

Loss of family home and resident concerns

The council stated that the unauthorised use had resulted in the loss of a family-sized home. It also cited increased activity, noise, disturbance, and pressure on waste arrangements affecting neighbours.

Cllr Robert Morritt, Leader of Wandsworth Council, commented on the decision. "People can't just change the use of residential homes without permission, so we're sending a strong message that breaches of planning rules will be taken seriously," he said, as reported by Wandsworth Council. "At a time when family-sized homes are so important in Wandsworth, we will take action when we find properties are being used in this way, and we'll stand up for residents when unauthorised intensified use is affecting neighbours."

Related Borough Coverage2 min read

Wandsworth Council proposes roadworks charges

A new scheme would charge companies for roadworks based on traffic sensitivity, aiming to reduce disruption.

Council's planning policy and previous action

Wandsworth's Local Plan aims to protect the borough's existing housing stock and resists the conversion of residential accommodation to short-term holiday lets. Council officers first visited 113 Gassiot Road in March 2026 following concerns about its use as short-term accommodation. After evidence confirmed the 90-night threshold had been surpassed, the council wrote to the property's owner and tenant in July 2026. The letter requested the unauthorised use cease within 14 days. The committee report indicates no response was received, and the use continued.

Following the Planning Committee's decision, the council is now authorised to issue an enforcement notice. This notice will require the cessation of the unauthorised short-term accommodation use and the return of the property to its lawful residential use. The council stated that direct or legal action may be taken if the enforcement notice is not complied with.

Residents who have concerns about suspected breaches of planning control can report them to Wandsworth Council. The council's planning enforcement team investigates reported breaches, including development without planning permission and material changes in land use.