The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss property licensing, review housing performance, and consider its work programme. The committee reviewed the ongoing consultation on property licensing schemes, and examined the latest quarterly housing performance report, noting areas of both progress and concern. The committee also discussed its upcoming work programme, scheduling future scrutiny topics.

Property Licensing Consultation

The committee discussed the ongoing public consultation on property licensing in Islington, which began on 13 January 2025 and is scheduled to end on 13 April 2025. The consultation focuses on two proposals:

• Re-designating the Borough-Wide Additional Licensing Scheme: This scheme applies to houses or flats shared by three or four unrelated people from different households. The current scheme is set to expire in February 2026.
• Expanding the Selective Licensing Scheme: Currently covering Finsbury Park, Hillrise, and Tollington wards, this scheme applies to privately rented homes occupied by one or two people or a single family. The council is proposing to extend it to nine additional wards: Barnsbury, Caledonian, Tufnell Park, Mildmay, Highbury, Junction, Laycock, Canonbury, and Clerkenwell.

The report before the committee stated that the private rented sector in Islington has grown substantially since 2011 and now represents a third of the housing in Islington, and is home to 74,000 of our residents including over 4,600 children and young people.

The consultation has been promoted through various channels, including press releases, advertisements in local and regional papers, the council’s electronic notice boards, lamp post advertising, leaflet delivery, face-to-face interactions, and letters and emails to private renters and current licence holders. Flyers and paper copies have been placed in libraries, and weekly in-person drop-in sessions are being held at 222 Upper Street to answer queries and provide assistance with completing the consultation survey.

The council has also engaged MEL Research, a specialist market research consultancy, to assist with the consultation. MEL Research is undertaking face-to-face surveys of a representative sample of properties, 30-minute telephone interviews with a range of stakeholders, and focus group sessions with landlords and renters and their representatives.

The report notes that under the Housing Act 2004, consultation is a requirement that must be carried out prior to a local authority making a property licensing designation.

If the council decides to proceed with the proposals after considering the consultation responses, the earliest the new schemes may come into effect is January 2026.

Quarterly Review of Housing Performance

The committee reviewed the Quarter 3 Performance Report for 2024/25, which tracks progress against targets in delivering the council’s A safe place to call home priority.

Key points from the report included:

• Decent Homes Standard: 4% of homes did not meet the Decent Homes Standard[^1] in Quarter 3, which is above the 2023/24 figure of 3% but still benchmarks in the upper London quartile and above the London median. [^1]: The Decent Homes Standard is a quality benchmark which sets minimum standards for the condition of social-rented homes.
• Repairs: 75% of non-emergency repairs were completed within the target timescale (20 days), which is within 5% of the London median. 95% of emergency repairs were completed within timescale, higher than the London median.
• Building Safety: Islington benchmarks either similar to or better than the London median in four out of the five building safety measures (gas, fire, asbestos, water and lift safety). Asbestos safety checks were at 88%, putting Islington in the lower quartile. The report noted that the corporate asbestos team has suffered from a significant reduction in resources due to staff absence, but that additional surveying resource is now in place to address the shortfall in the programme.
• Anti-social Behaviour (ASB): End-of-year projections estimate 48 antisocial behaviour cases per 1,000 properties, which is an increase compared to last year and above the London median. The report noted that changes in recording practice, ensuring compliancy with the TSM[^2] requirements, are expected to lead to an increase in cases recorded. [^2]: TSM refers to the Tenancy Satisfaction Measures introduced by the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill to improve standards for people living in social housing.
• Complaints: End-of-year projections for stage 1 complaints estimate 64 complaints per 1,000 households, of which 74% were responded to in the Ombudsman’s complaint handling timescale. End of year projections for stage 2 complaints estimate 20 complaints per 1,000 households, of which 97% were responded to in the Ombudsman’s complaint handling timescale.
• Temporary Accommodation: In Quarter 3, 15 per 1,000 households were in temporary accommodation. Although Islington has one of the highest number of homeless applications received in London, Islington has a lower rate of temporary accommodation compared to the London average.
• Rough Sleeping: The number of people sleeping rough this quarter (10) is lower than last year (14).
• Rent Arrears: In Q3, rent arrears as a proportion of rent roll was 5.2%.

Work Programme 2024/25

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2024/25. Items scheduled for the 12 May 2025 meeting include:

• Housing Association Scrutiny (Housing Association Tbc)
• Housing Performance Annual Report from Executive Member
• Annual Report from the Metropolitan Police
• Annual Report on Islington Libraries
• Update from Annual Executive Member for Community Safety
• Membership, Terms of Reference and Dates of Meetings
• Draft Work Programme 2025/26 and Potential Scrutiny Topics