Islington Can Fine Agents As Well As Landlords
Property Licensing Guide for Islington
Islington currently operates selective licensing in 3 wards and additional licensing in 17 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. A new selective licensing designation (10 wards) launches on 23 November 2026. Last checked: 22 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
Selective licensing in Islington expands in 2026. Islington selective licensing 2026 has the ward list, the fee breakdown and the confirmed timeline.
Islington is in the London registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 July 2027: see how the London registration window affects letting agents.
Islington Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether an Islington property is licensed, search the council’s public register by postcode. It lists licences issued under the Housing Act 2004, plus any Temporary Exemption Notices and management orders.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether an Islington property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check an Islington property →What are the licensing requirements for Islington?
Mandatory licensing in Islington
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Islington (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Islington?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Islington operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Islington?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Islington operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 1 February 2026 to 31 January 2031, borough-wide (all 17 wards).
Selective licensing: 20 May 2024 to 19 May 2029, covering Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington.
Selective licensing: 23 November 2026 to 22 November 2031, covering Barnsbury, Caledonian, Finsbury Park, Highbury, Hillrise, Junction, Laycock, Mildmay, Tollington and Tufnell Park.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
The new selective licensing scheme
Applications open on 7 September 2026 and the scheme takes effect on 23 November 2026.
What happens next
- 21 August 2026: designation made
- 7 September 2026: applications open
- 23 November 2026: scheme takes effect
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Islington Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Selective licence | £850 per property |
| Additional HMO licence | £900 (New application (base fee)). Worked total £1,200, on this basis: £900 base + 3 × £100 per letting |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £900 (New application (base fee)). Worked total £1,400, on this basis: £900 base + 5 × £100 per letting |
Fees as published by the council, verified 8 October 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
We Handle Your Islington Applications End-to-End
TRUSTED BY LEADING AGENTS & LANDLORDS ACROSS THE UK
Managing Across Multiple Boroughs?
Reduce risk by swapping manual tracking for our licensing compliance platform Kamma Suite.
3 licensing schemes. Know exactly what you need.
Islington Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Islington operate?
Islington operates selective and additional licensing (20 May 2024 to 19 May 2029, 1 February 2026 to 31 January 2031), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Applications open on 7 September 2026 and the scheme takes effect on 23 November 2026. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Islington need a licence?
No. Not every privately rented property in Islington needs a licence. Islington selective licensing covers homes let to one or two people, or one household, in the designated wards: Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington now, and seven more wards from 23 November 2026. HMOs need a licence by size: mandatory for five or more people in more than one household, additional for three or four people.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
An unlicensed property in Islington can bring a civil penalty from Islington Council of up to £40,000 per offence. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Islington. Islington Council accepts selective licence applications from landlords and managing agents, and many agents manage the whole process for their landlords.
How do I apply for an Islington property licence?
Apply through Islington Council’s property licensing portal, linked from the council’s licensing pages, or use a managed service such as Kamma. Selective licence applications for the seven new Islington wards opened on 7 September 2026.
Why did Islington introduce selective licensing?
Islington Council says its selective licensing targets areas where renters face vulnerabilities. It requires landlords to meet minimum standards on property safety, repairs, security, waste management and tenant information. The scheme covers Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington now, and seven more wards from 23 November 2026.
Why did Islington introduce additional licensing?
Islington Council renewed borough-wide additional HMO licensing beyond its February 2026 expiry, to 2031. The council says its licensing schemes target areas where tenants face vulnerabilities. Additional licensing covers HMOs with three or four unrelated occupants in more than one household.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Islington?
Islington Council sets the licence conditions for HMOs, listed on its property licensing page. They apply to mandatory HMOs (five or more people) and additional HMOs (three or four people). The HMO licence fee is £900 plus £100 per letting, set out in the council’s fee schedule.
About Islington
Islington is an inner London borough directly north of the City of London. The council says nearly one-third of its homes are privately rented. It says its licensing schemes target areas where renters face vulnerabilities.
The council consulted on renewing and expanding licensing and received 1,081 responses. It renewed borough-wide additional HMO licensing to 2031 and extended selective licensing by seven wards. The 2024 selective scheme in Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington covers about 5,400 homes, the council said in 2023.
Licensing Enforcement in Islington
Islington Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right. Islington Council keeps a public register of licensed properties, so tenants can check licence status themselves.
Neighbouring borough guides
Licensing schemes stop at the borough boundary. A property one street over can need a different licence. Guides for the neighbouring boroughs:
