Education

London councils expand selective licensing schemes amid rising housing concerns

Thursday, 30 October 2025 5:04AM UTC

Multiple London boroughs and Hertfordshire councils are advancing plans to strengthen licensing regulations, aiming to improve housing quality, safeguard tenants, and crack down on rogue landlords amid growing housing pressures.

Four London boroughs, alongside one council in Hertfordshire, are moving forward with plans to expand or introduce selective licensing schemes aimed at improving standards in the private rented sector and enhancing tenant protections.

Islington Council is set to broaden its existing selective licensing scheme to include seven additional wards—Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, and Laycock—bringing thousands more rented homes under regulatory oversight. This follows the current coverage of Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington. Alongside this, Islington is renewing its borough-wide additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) until 2031, which governs properties shared by three or four unrelated tenants. Councillor John Woolf highlighted the council’s commitment to listening to residents, landlords, and campaigners, stressing that while many landlords act responsibly, the new scheme aims to protect renters who often feel unsafe and overlooked, ensuring they receive the quality housing they deserve.

In neighbouring Croydon, a 12-week public consultation is underway to discuss two new licensing proposals. The first is a selective licensing scheme covering 14 wards where poor housing conditions have been identified, requiring landlords to obtain a property licence and comply with safety, management, and tenancy standards. The consultation also considers expanding HMO licensing to include smaller shared homes, targeting issues of poor management and unsafe conditions. Croydon's Executive Mayor Jason Perry expressed that such schemes enable the council to be proactive rather than reactive in managing the private rented market. He noted that licensing benefits good landlords by providing support in handling difficult situations and taking action against problematic tenants.

Westminster City Council is preparing to launch a comprehensive selective licensing scheme covering 15 of its 18 wards from November 2025. The initiative aims to tackle poor housing conditions, antisocial behaviour, and the unfair treatment of tenants. Councillor Ellie Ormsby stated that the scheme will help raise standards and crack down on rogue landlords, affirming the council’s commitment to working closely with landlords to ensure smooth compliance.

Meanwhile, Enfield Council has initiated a 12-week consultation on its proposed selective licensing scheme, which would extend coverage from 14 to 17 wards starting in September 2026 for a five-year term. The consultation seeks input from tenants, landlords, agents, local businesses, and residents through detailed questionnaires and online meetings. Councillor Susan Erbil underscored the importance of broad community feedback to inform the future of the scheme, which has previously been credited with improving housing conditions and reducing antisocial behaviour.

In Hertfordshire, Three Rivers District Council is exploring the introduction of licensing for smaller HMOs, particularly those with fewer than five occupants. The council is also considering the adoption of an Article 4 Direction to limit further conversions of properties into shared accommodation without planning permission. Councillor Steve Drury emphasised that resident safety is paramount, and while HMOs provide affordable and flexible options for tenants, greater transparency and regulation are needed to address residents' concerns. The council is also looking to publish pending licence applications and increase collaboration with the police and local communities to curb antisocial behaviour. Recommendations on these proposals are expected to be presented to the Policy and Resources Committee in January 2026.

Collectively, these moves reflect a growing trend among local authorities to tighten controls and improve standards in the private rented sector, balancing the needs of tenants for safe, well-managed homes with support for responsible landlords. The expansions and consultations are indicative of councils’ efforts to be proactive regulatory partners amid rising concerns about housing quality, tenant rights, and community wellbeing.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Property118), ^[2] (Islington Media)
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Property118), ^[3] (Croydon Council)
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (Property118), ^[4] (Westminster City Council)
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Property118), ^[5] (Enfield Council)
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] (Property118), ^[6] (Three Rivers District Council)
Paragraph 6 – ^[1] (Property118), ^[7] (Property118)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.property118.com/four-london-councils-plan-or-expand-selective-licensing-schemes/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.islington.media/news/thousands-more-renters-to-benefit-as-landlord-licensing-scheme-expands - Islington Council has announced the expansion of its landlord licensing schemes, extending the selective licensing scheme to seven additional wards: Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, and Laycock. This move aims to bring thousands more privately rented homes under regulation, ensuring tenants have safe, high-quality housing and that landlords are held accountable for maintaining their properties. The borough-wide additional House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme, covering homes shared by three or four unrelated people, will also be renewed until 2031. Councillor John Woolf stated that the scheme is designed to provide renters with the protection they need and the quality housing they deserve.
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/housing/landlords/croydon-private-rented-property-licence/future-private-rented-property-licensing - Croydon Council is consulting on proposals to introduce two new private rented property licensing schemes. The first proposal is a selective licensing scheme covering 14 wards where property conditions are considered poor. If approved, landlords would be required to apply for a Croydon property licence and meet safety, management, and tenancy standards. The second proposal extends HMO licensing to smaller shared homes, targeting poor management and unsafe conditions. Executive Mayor Jason Perry emphasized that licensing schemes allow the council to be more proactive in the private rented market and support landlords in dealing with difficult situations and taking action against bad tenants.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/westminster-city-council-introduces-wide-ranging-selective-licensing-scheme - Westminster City Council has announced the introduction of a wide-ranging selective licensing scheme, covering 15 of its 18 wards, starting on 24 November 2025. The scheme aims to tackle poor housing conditions, anti-social behaviour, and unfair treatment of tenants. Councillor Ellie Ormsby stated that the scheme will help raise standards in the private rented sector, crack down on rogue landlords, and ensure tenants are treated fairly. The council is working closely with landlords to support compliance and make the process as smooth as possible.
https://www.enfield.gov.uk/news/2025/november/enfield-council-launches-consultation-on-proposed-selective-licensing-scheme - Enfield Council has launched a 12-week consultation on its proposed selective licensing scheme, which would expand the existing coverage from 14 to 17 wards for a five-year period starting in September 2026. The consultation invites feedback from tenants, landlords, agents, residents, and local businesses through a detailed questionnaire and online meetings in November. Councillor Susan Erbil emphasized the importance of hearing from a wide range of people to gather views and feedback on the proposed scheme.
https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/three-rivers-district-council-explores-licensing-for-smaller-hmos - Three Rivers District Council in Hertfordshire is exploring options to introduce licensing for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), specifically those with fewer than five occupants. The council is also considering adopting an Article 4 Direction to restrict further conversions of homes into shared accommodation without planning permission. Councillor Steve Drury stated that the safety of residents is paramount, and while HMOs provide an affordable and flexible option for tenants, improved transparency on HMOs and licences are needed to alleviate concerns residents may have.
https://www.property118.com/four-london-councils-plan-or-expand-selective-licensing-schemes/ - Four London councils, plus one in Hertfordshire, are planning or expanding selective licensing schemes. Islington Council is extending its selective licensing scheme to seven new wards, bringing thousands more rented homes under regulation. Croydon Council is consulting on two new licensing schemes designed to improve housing standards and support good landlords. Westminster City Council is introducing a wide-ranging selective licensing scheme covering 15 of its 18 wards. Enfield Council has launched a 12-week consultation on its proposed selective licensing scheme, expanding coverage from 14 to 17 wards. Three Rivers District Council in Hertfordshire is exploring options to introduce licensing for smaller HMOs and may adopt an Article 4 Direction to restrict further conversions of homes into shared accommodation without planning permission.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is current, with the earliest known publication date being 30 October 2025. The Property118.com article was published on this date, and the referenced council announcements are recent, with Westminster's announcement on 28 October 2025 and Enfield's consultation launched on 24 October 2025. ([westminster.gov.uk](https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/new-selective-licensing-scheme-launch-four-weeks?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: Direct quotes from council representatives are unique to this narrative. For instance, Councillor John Woolf's statement in the Property118.com article is not found in earlier publications.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from Property118.com, a platform focusing on property news. While it provides direct links to official council communications, the platform's reputation is less established compared to major news outlets.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims align with recent council announcements and consultations. For example, Westminster City Council's new licensing scheme, set to launch on 24 November 2025, is detailed in their official release. ([westminster.gov.uk](https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/new-selective-licensing-scheme-launch-four-weeks?utm_source=openai)) The narrative's tone and language are consistent with official council communications.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is current, with unique quotes and consistent with recent council announcements. While sourced from a less established platform, the information is corroborated by official council communications, indicating a high level of reliability.

private rented sector
housing standards
licensing schemes