London councils expand selective licensing schemes amid rising housing concerns

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

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.