How many of us are there?
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 51,800 private renters in Islington in 2020. That’s 13,700 fewer renters than in 2016. Part of this fall in numbers could be because many renters left London during the Covid-19 pandemic. But there were fewer houses available to rent in London, with Islington seeing the biggest fall, down 58% year on year. There are still a lot of private renters around to campaign with, though.
If renting is so bad, why don’t private renters just buy a house?
Because in Islington, the average home costs 14.61 times the average annual income.
Why can’t they get a council house then?
In 2021, there were 14,164 households waiting for a council home in the borough, down from 20,733 recorded by the ONS in 2016. Despite the decrease, many people may not get housed due to housing supply shortages. Last year Islington council let only 1,022 properties, housing around 6% of households on their list.
Looks like we’re stuck in the private rented sector then. What’s it going to cost?
According to the Office for National Statistics, in the 12 months leading up to September 2022, median (average) monthly rents for Islington were
Room in a shared house: £750 (up from £708 in 2016)
One bedroom flat: £1500
Two-bedroom flat: £1,950
Three-bedroom flat: £2,448
House with four or more bedrooms: £3,098
That’s a lot. I guess that means a lot of private renters have to claim housing benefit to stay alive then?
Yes. 3,064 private renters claimed housing benefits to cover their rent in 2015. Unfortunately, the data hasn’t been updated to reflect more recent times but considering the rising cost of living and exponential rents, this figure is likely to be higher.
And does housing benefit cover it?
No. The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the maximum amount of housing benefit you can get, regardless of whether you’re a private renter (renting from a private landlord) or a social renter (renting from the council or a housing association). The monthly LHA in Islington depends on which part of the borough you live in. From 1 April 2024, the different rates are:
Central London (e.g. Clerkenwell, Finsbury)
Room in a shared house: £827.54
One-bedroom flat: £1436.02
Two-bedroom flat: £1789.06
Three-bedroom: £2154.10
Flat/house with four or more bedrooms: £3038.62
Inner East London (e.g. Canonbury)
Room in a shared house: £697.58
One-bedroom flat: £1436.02
Two-bedroom flat/house: £1745.21
Three-bedroom flat/house: £2154.1
Flat/house with four or more bedrooms: £2991.78
Inner North London (e.g. Barnsbury, Holloway)
Room in a shared house: £706.33
One-bedroom flat: £1436.02
Two-bedrooms flat/house : £1789.06
Three-bedroom flat/house: £2154.10
Flat/house with four or more bedrooms: £3051.62
Outer North (around Upper Holloway and Crouch Hill)
Shared Accommodation Rate: £593.36
One Bedroom Rate: £1146.86
Two Bedrooms Rate: £1396.16
Three Bedrooms Rate: £1690.35
Four Bedrooms Rate: £2193.97
Can I talk to someone at the council about problems with my private landlord?
Yes. The council’s Islington Housing Aid team is there to help. You can phone 020 7527 2000 and ask for Housing Aid or email
Also, Islington Law Centre has a long history of excellent service in the borough. Open from Monday to Friday, 1000h until 1300h and then, after lunch from 1400h until 1600h. The Law Centre is based in the South of the borough, close to Islington Green at
38 Devonia Road, London, N1 8JH
How about the Environmental Health team – do they help private renters?
Yes. Islington has 12 environmental health staff. They deal with problems like damp, mould, infestations and lack of hot water. If you are living with serious disrepair and the landlord does not act to make good, you should contact the residential environmental health team, ask them to inspect and help.
Do private landlords in Islington have to get a licence?
All councils in England and Wales have to license Houses in Multiple Occupation. Islington Council has also introduced an additional licensing scheme around Caledonian Road and Holloway Road, which applies to many shared homes not covered by the mandatory scheme. In Finsbury Park ward, all privately rented homes, of any size, must be licensed by the council. From January 2024, this licensing scheme will expand to include all rented homes in Tollington and Hillrise wards. This is because council receives more complaints about rented homes in this part of North Islington than any other. It is the landlord’s job to apply and to pay for a licence, not yours.
Islington Council aims to ensure that standards are met in flats in purpose-built blocks, too. These are not included in the national scheme but LB Islington requires HMOs in purpose-built blocks to be licensed.
Does Islington Council run a private letting agency for private renters?
Some councils are starting to run non-profit letting agencies for private renters, to help private renters avoid the extortionate fees and bad practices of high street letting agents. Islington Council now runs Islington Lettings.
Does Islington council have a Private Rented Sector (PRS) forum, where private renters can discuss ways to make private renting better?
Islington Council is influenced by the borough’s landlords at the quarterly landlords’ forum, but unfortunately there is no private renters’ forum at the moment.
Councils have significant powers to prosecute landlords who break the law.
How many criminal landlords has Islington prosecuted?
The Residential Environmental Health team have carried out the following no. of prosecutions in the following years against landlords and agents of privately rented accommodation
2014/15- 6 prosecutions
2015/16- 5 prosecutions
2016/17- 5 prosecutions
2017/18- 6 prosecutions
Who else should I talk to about making private renting fairer in Islington?
Every council is divided between Councillors, who are elected politicians, and non-political officers, who are appointed to do a particular job. You can contact any of your Ward Councillors and additionally, in Islington, these people should be able to help:
Councillor Jenny Kay
Private Renters Champion
e.
t. 020 7527 3090 (PA)
Town Hall
Upper Street
London
N1 2UD
Councillor Una O’Halloran
Executive Member for Homes and Communities
e.
t. 020 7527 4717 (PA)
Town Hall
Upper Street
London
N1 2UD