Landlords in the Islington areas of Finsbury Park, Tollington and Hillrise wards will have to comply with an enlarged licensing scheme from the start of 2024.
These areas are known to have a number of properties with issues of disrepair, damp and mould, inadequate facilities and safety issues, according to the complaints received by enforcement officers.
The council said around 3,500 selective licences will be issued, costing £800 with a £75 reduction for accredited landlords.
This enlarged scheme trebles the number of homes covered by the scheme, as it encompasses all privately rented houses or flats in the three wards that are occupied by a single person, two people sharing, or any number of people forming a single household.
If landlords fail to meet the license conditions they can be fined for up to £30,000 for each condition breached.
Councillor Una O’Halloran, executive member for homes and communities, said: “While the vast majority of Islington’s landlords are responsible and let good quality homes, renters have told us that many others are riddled with safety and other issues, while their rent continues to soar.
“This new licensing scheme will mean landlords must do more in hazard hotspots to protect tenants – or face action from our enforcement team.”
In a poll on the subject, 72% of tenants were in favour of an enlarged scheme, compared to just 15% of private landlords.
The council will receive £2.7 million over the course of five years from the scheme.
There are around 5,000 privately rented homes in Islington, around a third of overall stock.
