DIY InventoryLetting a property in Islington: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Islington.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Islington
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington wards (20 May 2024 to 19 May 2029). A second scheme for Barnsbury, Caledonian, Highbury, Junction, Laycock, Mildmay and Tufnell Park wards starts on 23 November 2026 (applications opened 7 September 2026); it covers homes let to one or two people or a single family.
- Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing for homes shared by three or more people from more than one household, renewed from 1 February 2026 for five years.
- Fees: Around £850 per property for a selective licence and £900 plus £100 a bedroom for an additional HMO licence, paid in two parts (council fee list; check the current figures before applying).
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Islington Council.
Islington Council: private renting and licensing
Safety certificates
- Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
- EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
- Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Islington at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.
Deposits and the inventory
Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.
What to record in Islington homes
- Flats in converted Georgian and Victorian houses: photograph sash windows, cords and locks, and any cracks over doors and in cornices.
- Ex-council flats on estates: note the number of entry fobs and keys, and photograph the communal door, the meter cupboard and the bin store.
- Basement and lower-ground flats: photograph walls at floor level, window wells and any signs of damp or mould.
- Shared top-floor flats: photograph the loft hatch, roof lights and ceilings under the roof for water stains.
- Selective or HMO licence: photograph the licence and any fire doors, alarms and fire blankets the licence conditions require.
Homes sold in Islington in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 996 | £606,847 |
| Terraced | 203 | £1,529,883 |
| Other | 74 | £1,825,906 |
| Semi-detached | 24 | £2,354,604 |
| Detached | 8 | £2,369,125 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Islington: questions
Is there selective licensing in Islington?
Selective licensing covers Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington wards (20 May 2024 to 19 May 2029). A second scheme for Barnsbury, Caledonian, Highbury, Junction, Laycock, Mildmay and Tufnell Park wards starts on 23 November 2026 (applications opened 7 September 2026); it covers homes let to one or two people or a single family. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Islington?
A Gas Safety certificate every 12 months (where there is gas), an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, and a valid EPC rated E or above, plus working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances.
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits, with the prescribed information given to the tenant in the same 30 days.
Do I need an inventory as a landlord in Islington?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but without a signed check-in record it is very hard to claim anything from the deposit at the end. With DIY Inventory you can do it yourself for £30, or send your tenant a link to do it.