Selective licensing in Islington
Yes. Islington operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
What the designation says
London Borough of Islington operates a Selective Licensing scheme that is being EXPANDED. The current designation came into force on 20 May 2024 and runs until 19 May 2029 (5-year designation). It replaced the previous Finsbury Park-only scheme that ran from 1 February 2021. On 23 October 2025 Islington Council's Executive resolved to expand selective licensing to seven additional wards . Designation under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004. CURRENT COVERAGE (since 20 May 2024): 3 wards — FINSBURY PARK, TOLLINGTON, HILLRISE. Notes: the scheme uses post-May 2022 ward boundaries. ANNOUNCED EXPANSION (date of effect TBC by council): 7 additional wards — BARNSBURY, CALEDONIAN, TUFNELL PARK, MILDMAY, HIGHBURY, JUNCTION, LAYCOCK. The Executive approved the expansion on 23 October 2025 but Islington Council had not confirmed the start date as of the latest update. Verify current status at islington.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-housing/landlords/houses-in-multiple-occupation-hmos before applying. Once in force, the scheme will cover 10 wards in total. All privately rented houses or flats occupied by either 1 or 2 people (irrespective of relationship) or by a single household/family within the designated wards. Use the postcode checker on islington.gov.uk to confirm whether a property is in a designated ward. Note: the Finsbury Park ward has changed boundaries since 2022 — the licensing area may differ from current ward maps. Nearly a third of homes in Islington are privately rented (~74,000 residents including over 4,600 children/young people). Finsbury Park ward has the poorest housing conditions in private rented property in the borough and higher levels of deprivation. £850 per property. Two-part instalments. Discounts: £75 for accredited landlords/managing agents; £50 for EPC rating A-C. No discounts where late application or missing documents. Kitchen/bathroom facilities, room sizes, fire safety, gas safety (annual certificate), electrical safety (5-year EICR), waste management, anti-social behaviour management, fit and proper person test, written tenancy agreements. Section 95(1) Housing Act 2004 — operating unlicensed is a criminal offence. Civil financial penalty up to £30,000 per offence. Unlimited fine on conviction. RROs up to 12 months (24 months under Renters' Rights Act 2025). Section 21 invalid where unlicensed. propertylicensing.islington.gov.uk online application portal.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Islington before letting.