New proposals have been published by Islington Council to help stand-up for private renters’ rights and tackle rogue landlords. 

To have your say and show your support for further action to protect private renters, please complete the short consultation survey by 3rd November here.

Under Islington Labour’s leadership, Islington Council has announced proposals for two new landlord licensing schemes.

The plans, published today, will see:

• All landlords across the borough who rent out houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) required to be licensed
• All landlords of all private rented homes in Finsbury Park required to be licensed
• People given the chance to show their support for further action to help private renters.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 of the approximately 5,500 HMOs in the borough are in a poor condition, whilst a 2018 survey in Finsbury Park ward found issues of concern in almost 60% of HMOs in the ward.

Since 2014, Islington Council’s dedicated reporting line for private renters has helped improve over 1,800 private rented homes, and over 2,800 people have been offered advice with problems.

The Council has also has secured 34 convictions of landlords and letting agents who were not treating tenants fairly – including action against a dodgy lettings agent that saw two people sent to prison for over 4 and half years combined.

Under Islington Labour’s leadership, the Council has also introduced targeted landlord licensing schemes in hotspot areas on Caledonian Road and Holloway Road, helping to protect over 3,500 private renters.

The new landlord licensing schemes that being are proposing will help build on work to get private renters a fairer deal. The two licensing schemes will allow the Council to set minimum standards for property management, including the provision of kitchen and bathroom facilities, room sizes and health and safety (such as fire, gas and electricity safety checks).

Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Islington Council, said:

“Everyone has the right to a decent, safe and genuinely affordable home. London’s ongoing housing crisis means that far too many dodgy operators are able to take advantage of people’s desperate need for a home, and are profiting off substandard properties with poor living conditions.

 

“The Council can and does act to protect private renters and we’ve taken significant enforcement action against rogue landlords and dodgy lettings agents recently.  Licensing schemes are powerful tools to help us protect private renters and, if agreed, these new schemes will help us to identify and reward good landlords while protecting some of our most marginalised private renters.”

The consultation is also an important opportunity for local people to show their support for further action to be taken to protect private renters, including introducing more licensing schemes that cover all private rented homes in specific areas and supporting Islington Labour’s ambition for a scheme that protects all private renters in the borough.

Disgracefully, the Tory Government has stopped councils from introducing borough-wide licensing schemes.

To have your say and show your support for further action to protect private renters, please complete the short consultation survey by 3rd November here.