Islington Council launches consultation to enhance protections for private renters
Islington Council has launched a public consultation to gather views on renewing and expanding its property licensing schemes.
These schemes aim to ensure private renters across the borough have safe, high-quality housing and to hold landlords accountable for maintaining their properties. The consultation will focus on two key licensing schemes:
- Renewing the borough-wide additional licensing scheme: This scheme, which applies to houses or flats shared by three or four unrelated people from different households, is set to expire in February 2026.
- Expanding the selective licensing scheme: Currently covering Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington wards, this scheme applies to privately rented homes occupied by one or two people or a single family. The council is proposing to extend it to nine additional wards: Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, Laycock, Canonbury, and Clerkenwell.
With more than a third of Islington homes being privately rented, it is more important than ever to ensure renters have good-quality housing. Under the existing schemes, landlords who fail to register or meet licence conditions can face penalties, including fines or criminal convictions.
This ensures a fair environment for responsible landlords while tackling issues caused by rogue landlords who neglect maintenance or exploit tenants.
Cllr John Woolf, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, said: "In Islington, everyone deserves a safe, decent, and genuinely affordable home. We are committed to doing everything we can to protect private renters and ensure landlords provide good-quality accommodation.
"The success of our current licensing schemes has shown that they can make a real difference. Now, we need your input to shape the future of these schemes.
"We encourage residents, landlords, and stakeholders to take part in this consultation and help us create a fairer, safer rental market for our community.”
The consultation will run until midnight on Sunday 13 April and seeks input from residents, private renters, landlords, and other stakeholders.
Notes to editors
Existing Licensing Schemes in Islington:
- Mandatory Licensing: Covers houses or flats where five or more unrelated people, forming two or more households, share amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
- Additional Licensing: Applies to houses or flats where three or four unrelated people, forming two or more households, share facilities. Introduced in February 2021.
- Selective Licensing: Covers privately rented accommodation for one or two people or a single family/household in Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington wards. Introduced in May 2024.
Further Information:
- The consultation can be found on our website.
- Tenants can verify whether their landlord has a valid licence through the council’s Landlord Licence Public Register.
- Details on applying for a property licence are available on the council’s website.
Contact information
If you are a member of the public with a general question about the council please view the contact information on our website or call 020 7527 2000.