More than 5,400 homes in Islington now need a licence under Islington Council’s new selective licensing scheme.
Landlords in Finsbury Park, Tollington and Hillrise wards are affected, where properties are blighted with poor conditions, according to council enforcement officers who have been deluged with thousands of complaints about disrepair, damp and mould, inadequate facilities and safety issues.
The scheme, approved by the council’s executive, triples the old Finsbury Park scheme it replaces and takes effect on 1st January 2024. All existing selective licences will transfer to the new scheme so there will be no need for landlords who have already applied and paid for a licence to reapply.
The council estimates that 3,500 selective licences could be issued, with a fee of £800 and a £75 reduction for accredited landlords, generating an income of about £2.7 million over the next five years.
Riddled
Councillor Una O’Halloran (pictured), executive member for homes and communities, says: “While the vast majority of Islington’s landlords are responsible and let good quality homes, renters have told us that many others are riddled with safety and other issues, while their rent continues to soar.”
She adds: “This new licensing scheme will mean landlords must do more in hazard hotspots to protect tenants – or face action from our enforcement team.”
Overall response rates to a council consultation were very low and there was a significant difference in opinion between landlords and tenants, with 15% of private landlords and managing agents in favour of licensing but 72% of tenants.
The scheme has taken years to be implemented; councillors were discussing options back in May 2020.
