License to Bill: The North London Scheme Sparking Controversy Among Landlords
Islington council has just expanded a scheme that mandates landlords to hold a license. It costs around £850 per property, and aims to ensure the safety and proper maintenance of private rentals.
Islington council announced on Friday its plans to expand the selective licensing scheme, which covers privately rented properties in certain areas.
The £850 license aims ensure the safety and proper maintenance of private rentals.
The scheme, which currently applies to Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington, has now been extended by seven more Islington wards – now including Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, and Laycock.
Additionally, the council has renewed its borough-wide additional House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme, now expiring in 2031.
Nearly a third of homes in Islington are privately rented.
As Islington council describes, “this expansion will bring thousands more privately rented homes under regulation, helping ensure tenants have safe, high-quality housing and that landlords are held accountable for maintaining their properties.”
However, several landlord associations aren’t happy about the mounting cost of license applications. Previously marked at £800, it will now cost landlords £850 per property, and failure to comply could result in a hefty additional fine.
A council-commissioned study in April revealed that almost two thirds of landlords oppose the policy, with this number inevitably set to rise following the recent expansion.
Almost a third of Islington’s homes are privately rented.
Landlords lock horns
Peter Littlewood, Chief Executive of Landlord Association iHowz, told City News in a statement:
“The proposal by Islington council to significantly extend its selective licensing scheme to more wards, alongside raising fees, has attracted considerable concern from landlord representative bodies.”
He claimed that the scheme expansion may prove redundant, particularly as the nationwide Renters Rights Bill is due to introduce significant national regulations.
Littlewood continued:
“iHowz, therefore, questions the necessity of implementing an expensive, wide-area selective scheme now, when forthcoming national legislation […] should remove the justification for applying licensing to all landlords in vast areas.”
Peter Ross, of the British Landlords Association, however, believes that “for a landlord in Islington, the pragmatic approach is to embrace the change, budget accordingly, and view the licensing as part of being a professional operator rather than seeing it purely as a burden.”
He told City News: “From the tenant side, the expansion is broadly positive in improving standards and oversight, but there is a risk that costs may indirectly rise.”
‘I don’t feel bad for landlords, and I don’t think I ever will’
Despite debate over the justification of landlords incurring more costs. renters in Islington told City News that they believe the proposal is fair.
By employing the scheme, one resident argued that “Islington is really looking out for the people that live here.”
Another added:
“If you can hold landlords to a higher standard to ensure that the housing that they’re offering to people is adequate […] we should move towards policies that make that happen.”
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HeadlineLicense to Bill: The North London Scheme Sparking Controversy Among Landlords
Short HeadlineLondon Landlord Licensing Scheme to Expand
StandfirstIslington council has just expanded a scheme that mandates landlords to hold a license. It costs around £850 per property, and aims to ensure the safety and proper maintenance of private rentals.
Islington council announced on Friday its plans to expand the selective licensing scheme, which covers privately rented properties in certain areas.
The £850 license aims ensure the safety and proper maintenance of private rentals.
The scheme, which currently applies to Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington, has now been extended by seven more Islington wards – now including Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, and Laycock.
Additionally, the council has renewed its borough-wide additional House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme, now expiring in 2031.
Nearly a third of homes in Islington are privately rented.
As Islington council describes, “this expansion will bring thousands more privately rented homes under regulation, helping ensure tenants have safe, high-quality housing and that landlords are held accountable for maintaining their properties.”
However, several landlord associations aren’t happy about the mounting cost of license applications. Previously marked at £800, it will now cost landlords £850 per property, and failure to comply could result in a hefty additional fine.
A council-commissioned study in April revealed that almost two thirds of landlords oppose the policy, with this number inevitably set to rise following the recent expansion.
Almost a third of Islington’s homes are privately rented.
Landlords lock horns
Peter Littlewood, Chief Executive of Landlord Association iHowz, told City News in a statement:
“The proposal by Islington council to significantly extend its selective licensing scheme to more wards, alongside raising fees, has attracted considerable concern from landlord representative bodies.”
He claimed that the scheme expansion may prove redundant, particularly as the nationwide Renters Rights Bill is due to introduce significant national regulations.
Littlewood continued:
“iHowz, therefore, questions the necessity of implementing an expensive, wide-area selective scheme now, when forthcoming national legislation […] should remove the justification for applying licensing to all landlords in vast areas.”
Peter Ross, of the British Landlords Association, however, believes that “for a landlord in Islington, the pragmatic approach is to embrace the change, budget accordingly, and view the licensing as part of being a professional operator rather than seeing it purely as a burden.”
He told City News: “From the tenant side, the expansion is broadly positive in improving standards and oversight, but there is a risk that costs may indirectly rise.”
‘I don’t feel bad for landlords, and I don’t think I ever will’
Despite debate over the justification of landlords incurring more costs. renters in Islington told City News that they believe the proposal is fair.
By employing the scheme, one resident argued that “Islington is really looking out for the people that live here.”
Another added:
“If you can hold landlords to a higher standard to ensure that the housing that they’re offering to people is adequate […] we should move towards policies that make that happen.”
