London
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
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This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for London Borough of Islington, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with London Borough of Islington.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
Council updates
We will email you if London Borough of Islington introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.
This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Property Licensing Check
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A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
Coming soon
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Borough-wide scheme covering all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by three or more persons from two or more separate households who share facilities. Includes: shared houses/flats with 3-4 unrelated occupants, purpose-built flat blocks with 3+ unrelated tenants in 2+ households, and Section 257 HMOs (buildings converted into self-contained flats where the conversion did not comply with Building Regulations 1991 and less than two-thirds of flats are owner-occupied). Section 257 HMOs are restricted to those where all flats are privately rented and under single freehold ownership.
This is the second designation of Islington's additional licensing scheme. The first ran from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2026. As of April 2024, approximately 3,247 properties were licensed under the additional scheme. Approximately 3,500 licences are expected over the five-year designation period, generating approximately £3 million in fee income. The scheme was approved by the Executive on 23 October 2025 and the designation was made on 30 October 2025. Property types covered: Shared houses occupied by 3-4 people from 2+ households sharing facilities (not meeting mandatory threshold),Shared flats occupied by 3-4 people from 2+ households sharing facilities,Bedsit-style HMOs with 3-4 occupants from 2+ households,Purpose-built flat blocks with 3+ unrelated tenants in 2+ households,Section 257 HMOs: converted buildings not complying with Building Regulations 1991, where all flats are privately rented under single freehold ownership. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties subject to mandatory HMO licensing (5+ occupants from 2+ households) Section 257 HMOs where NOT all flats are privately rented or NOT under single freehold ownership (Islington has restricted scope) Properties managed by local housing authorities, registered social landlords, or other specified public bodies.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
National mandatory requirement covering all properties with 5 or more persons from 2 or more households sharing facilities. Applies borough-wide as a legal requirement under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004.
As of April 2024, approximately 567 properties were licensed under mandatory HMO licensing in Islington. The mandatory scheme applies nationally to all English local authorities. Islington has operated mandatory HMO licensing continuously in accordance with the Housing Act 2004. Property types covered: Houses occupied by 5 or more persons from 2 or more households sharing amenities,Flats/bedsits where occupants must leave the unit to access shared bathrooms or kitchens, occupied by 5+ from 2+ households,Converted buildings (not self-contained flats) occupied by 5+ persons from 2+ households. Exemptions or exclusions: Purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of 3 or more (exempt from mandatory; may fall under additional licensing) Properties managed by local housing authorities, registered social landlords, or other specified public bodies.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Covers all privately rented properties in three council wards: Finsbury Park, Tollington, and Hillrise. Applies to properties let to a single household, a single tenant, or two unrelated people sharing.
As of April 2024, approximately 1,719 properties were licensed under selective licensing. The scheme was designated on 19 February 2024 with applications opening 1 April 2024 (about 7 weeks before the scheme came into force on 20 May 2024). Finsbury Park ward was singled out as having some of the worst housing conditions in privately rented property in the borough, with high levels of deprivation. Property types covered: All privately rented properties (houses and flats) occupied by a single household, single tenant, or two unrelated people sharing. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties already subject to mandatory HMO licensing Properties already subject to additional HMO licensing Properties managed by local housing authorities or registered social landlords.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Approved extension of selective licensing to seven additional wards: Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, and Laycock. Will cover all privately rented properties occupied by a single household, single tenant, or two unrelated people sharing in these wards. Start date not yet confirmed as of March 2026.
The Executive approved plans on 23 October 2025. The scheme was scaled back from the originally proposed nine wards: Canonbury and Clerkenwell were removed from the final approved scheme following consultation feedback (1,081 responses were received). Council documents had indicated the earliest new schemes may come into effect was January 2026, but as of March 2026 no start date has been confirmed. When implemented, the combined selective licensing coverage will span 10 wards (3 existing + 7 new). Nearly two-thirds of Islington landlords reportedly opposed selective licensing expansion in a survey published in April 2025. Property types covered: All privately rented properties (houses and flats) occupied by a single household, single tenant, or two unrelated people sharing. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties already subject to mandatory HMO licensing Properties already subject to additional HMO licensing Properties managed by local housing authorities or registered social landlords.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
Medium (59/100)
Sources checked
16
Multiple official and well-regarded third-party sources corroborate the core scheme details. The additional licensing designation date, start/end dates, and approval process are confirmed by the statutory public notice portal and Islington press releases. The selective licensing Scheme 1 (Finsbury Park, Tollington, Hillrise) details are well-documented across multiple sources with consistent dates. The second selective licensing scheme approval is confirmed by council press releases and LPL. Fee information is the area of greatest uncertainty: the 2024/25 PDF shows £288/letting for HMO fees, while Kamma (updated for 2026) and NRLA (January 2026) report £335/letting - the higher figure is treated as current. Selective licensing fee of £850 is confirmed by londonpropertylicensing.co.uk as of March 2026.
Maintained under the Housing Act 2004 requirement. Users can search by postcode. The register includes licensed properties, Temporary Exemption Notices, and Interim/Final Management Orders. JavaScript must be enabled. As of April 2024: approximately 567 mandatory HMO licences, 3,247 additional HMO licences, and 1,719 selective licences held.
Supporting sources
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from London Borough of Islington.
National mandatory requirement covering all properties with 5 or more persons from 2 or more households sharing facilities. Applies borough-wide as a legal requirement under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004.
As of April 2024, approximately 567 properties were licensed under mandatory HMO licensing in Islington. The mandatory scheme applies nationally to all English local authorities. Islington has operated mandatory HMO licensing continuously in accordance with the Housing Act 2004. Property types covered: Houses occupied by 5 or more persons from 2 or more households sharing amenities,Flats/bedsits where occupants must leave the unit to access shared bathrooms or kitchens, occupied by 5+ from 2+ households,Converted buildings (not self-contained flats) occupied by 5+ persons from 2+ households. Exemptions or exclusions: Purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of 3 or more (exempt from mandatory; may fall under additional licensing) Properties managed by local housing authorities, registered social landlords, or other specified public bodies.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the London Borough of Islington summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand selective licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader legal background on how selective licensing works alongside this council page.
Understand additional licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the local HMO route→
Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.
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