Private renters in Islington are living at the sharp end of London’s housing crisis. Rents are among the highest in the country and continue to rise faster than wages. For years, renters have been left exposed to the whims of the market and the worst practices of rogue landlords.
Labour is changing that: nationally, across London, and right here in Islington.
From ending no‑fault evictions in law, to backing councils with the powers and funding to enforce standards, Labour is rebalancing the system in favour of tenants. This joined‑up Labour approach is already making a difference for private renters locally and will go further with new national protections.
On 1 May, the Labour Government’s Renters’ Rights Act comes into force – the most significant reform of private renting in over 30 years.
At the heart of the Act is the abolition of Section 21 no‑fault evictions. For the first time in a generation, landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants on a whim, providing families and individuals with the stability they need to put down roots in their communities.
It also ends the churn of insecure fixed‑term contracts by moving all assured tenancies onto open‑ended periodic tenancies, giving renters long‑term security in their homes. Limits on rent increases mean landlords can raise rents only once a year, with proper notice, and tenants can challenge raises they see as unfair.
New national systems, including a Landlord Database and a private rented sector ombudsman, will bring much‑needed accountability to a sector that has operated for too long without proper oversight.
Labour’s action doesn’t stop with legislation. Recognising that rights only matter if they are enforced, Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has provided London‑wide support ahead of the Act coming into force.
In March, the Mayor launched a Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund to help renters understand and defend their new rights. The funding will support renters’ organisations and unions, provide advice and guidance for tenants, and fund training for council enforcement officers. This ensures boroughs like Islington are better equipped to hold bad landlords to account.
In Islington, Labour hasn’t waited for national change. The council has built one of the strongest regulatory and enforcement frameworks for private renting anywhere in the country, because good legislation still needs local action.
Islington Labour has expanded landlord licensing, renewing and extending its schemes to cover more wards and more homes. This proactive approach helps improve standards before problems spiral into crises.
The council pairs this with tough enforcement. Officers investigate hundreds of tenant complaints every year and carry out more than a thousand property inspections. Where landlords fail to comply, the council issues warnings, enforcement notices, fines and penalties.
Just as importantly, Islington Labour backs renters directly. The council provides advice services, drop‑in sessions and support for tenants facing poor conditions or unfair treatment. Through the Islington PRS Charter, the council sets clear expectations of good landlord behaviour and promotes a fairer, more responsible private rented sector.
For private renters in Islington, the message is clear. Labour is not just talking about housing; it is delivering at every level of government.
A Labour Government is ending no‑fault evictions and raising standards nationwide. A Labour Mayor is putting money behind enforcement and standing up for fairer rents, and a Labour council in Islington is already leading the way on licensing, inspections and action against rogue landlords.
Together, Labour is transforming private renting from a postcode lottery into a system that works for residents – creating safer homes, fairer treatment and real security for Islington’s renters.