Islington Council’s new selective licensing scheme covers 5,000 private rented homes

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 - London Borough of Islington

Over 5,000 privately rented homes in Islington must be licensed to ensure tenants have good quality housing – or their landlords will face prosecution. 

All private landlords in Finsbury Park, Tollington and Hillrise council wards, where there are particular problems with poor conditions, must apply to get their properties licensed after Islington Council’s expanded licensing scheme came into effect on Monday 20 May. 

Nearly a third of homes in Islington are privately rented, and the council is committed to standing alongside private renters to make sure they have a safe place to call home.  

The new expanded selective licensing scheme, which replaces a previous scheme covering only Finsbury Park, was announced last July (read here). Since then, the council has been preparing to launch the scheme, including publicising it to landlords. 

Now, landlords who fail to sign up or meet licence conditions may face an unlimited fine and a criminal conviction. 

Equally, the scheme will help level the playing field for responsible landlords, making sure rogue landlords who save money by dodging maintenance and renting out low-quality homes are held to account.  

Cllr Una O’Halloran, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods at Islington Council said: 

“Everyone in Islington should have a safe, decent and genuinely affordable place to call home. Private renters are under huge pressure, now more than ever, and we’re determined to stand alongside them. 

“While most of Islington’s landlords are responsible and take good care of people’s homes, we hear from hundreds of renters who don’t feel safe or listened to, while their rents go up and up. This new scheme will make sure they have the protection, and the homes, they deserve. 

“If you’re a landlord in Finsbury Park, Tollington and Hillrise and you haven’t already signed up, make sure you apply now.” 

Tenants can check whether their landlord has a licence via the council’s Landlord Licence Public Register. Islington also has other licensing schemes to protect private renters who live in shared accommodation across the borough.

More information including details about how to apply for a licence available on the council’s website.

Our free guide containing more information about property licensing and HMO planning restrictions in the London Borough of Islington is available here.

For all the latest news and events, you can sign up for the free London Property Licensing newsletter here.