Islington Council has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on renewing and expanding its property licensing schemes. Key Proposals

1. Renewing the Borough-Wide Additional Licensing Scheme
   • Currently applies to houses or flats shared by 3 or 4 unrelated people.
   • Set to expire in February 2026.
2. Expanding the Selective Licensing Scheme
   • Currently covers Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington wards for privately rented homes occupied by 1 or 2 people or a single family.
   • Proposal to extend it to 9 additional wards:
     • Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, Laycock, Canonbury, and Clerkenwell.

Why This Matters

With over a third of homes in Islington privately rented, the councils stated aims are to ensure that:

• Renters have access to safe and good-quality housing.
• Responsible landlords operate in a fair environment.
• Rogue landlords who neglect maintenance or exploit tenants are held accountable through fines or criminal penalties.

Council Statement

Cllr John Woolf, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, emphasised:

“In Islington, everyone deserves a safe, decent, and genuinely affordable home. The success of our current licensing schemes shows they make a real difference. We now need your input to shape the future of these schemes.”

How to Participate

The consultation is open to residents, private renters, landlords, and stakeholders. It will run until midnight on Sunday, 13 April 2025.