Islington Council to consult on further steps to protect private renters
Islington Council has announced plans to launch a public consultation in early 2025 to determine whether to renew and extend its property licensing schemes.
The schemes are designed to ensure that private renters across Islington have access to safe, high-quality housing and that landlords are held accountable for maintaining their properties.
The council will consult on two licensing schemes. It proposes to renew its borough-wide additional licensing scheme which is due to expire in February 2026 - this applies to houses or flats shared by three or four unrelated people from different households.
It is also consulting on expanding its selective licensing scheme, which currently operates in Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington wards, and covers privately rented homes for one or two people, or a single family. The expansion could include nine more wards: Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, Laycock, Canonbury, and Clerkenwell.
More than a third of homes in Islington are privately rented, highlighting the need to protect private tenants. Under the existing schemes, landlords who fail to register or meet licence conditions face penalties, including fines or criminal convictions. This means that responsible landlords benefit from a level playing field, while rogue landlords who neglect maintenance or exploit tenants are held accountable.
Cllr John Woolf, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, said: "Everyone in Islington deserves a safe, decent and genuinely affordable place to call home. We want to do all we can to protect private renters and hold landlords who fail to provide decent accommodation accountable.
“Our experience with the existing schemes shows that licensing can make a real difference. We want to hear from residents, landlords and stakeholders as part of this consultation to ensure our plans meet the needs of everyone in our community.”
The consultation will launch in 2025 and seek input from residents, landlords and other stakeholders to assess the potential benefits and challenges of extending the scheme.
Notes to editors
Islington Council operates three property licensing schemes:
Mandatory licensing – Covering all houses or flats where there are five or more unrelated people, forming two or more households, and who share amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities.
Additional licensing - Covering houses or flats where there are three or four unrelated people, forming two or more households, and sharing facilities, which was introduced in February 2021.
Selective licensing - Covering privately rented accommodation occupied by either one or two people, whatever their relationship, or occupied by a single family/household, and located within Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington wards. This was introduced in May 2024.
Tenants can check whether their landlord has a licence via the council’s Landlord Licence Public Register.
More information on how to apply for a property licence is 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.