Islington Council Homes 2026: 750 New Builds + Licensing Expansion

Islington Council plans to begin construction of new council homes in the 2026/27 financial year. At the same time the council has expanded its landlord licensing scheme to several wards.

These measures sit alongside the renewal of the borough-wide House in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme, which runs from its February 2026 expiry until 2031, and the completion of purchases under a buy-back programme that had secured homes by March 2026.

The licensing changes directly affect private renters in the named wards by extending council oversight of landlords. Residents in those areas may encounter new requirements on property standards and management in the near term, while the HMO scheme continues to apply across the borough until 2031.

Construction and regeneration timelines

New council homes are not expected to be available for occupation until after building work starts in the 2026/27 financial year. A separate regeneration scheme at Barnsbury Estate, which received planning permission in 2025, is projected to deliver new homes over a longer period.

Buy-backs already completed by March 2026 add to the existing stock of council-owned properties and are intended to reduce pressure on homelessness services. These homes are already in use or allocated, providing an earlier route to additional supply than new-build projects.

The combination of measures means licensing protections for private renters in the seven wards can begin to operate before the first of the new council homes reach completion. Residents seeking council tenancies will see the impact of the new homes once construction finishes and allocations begin.

Council records show the buy-backs were achieved by March 2026 as part of efforts to increase the supply of social housing. The Barnsbury Estate scheme remains subject to the 2025 planning consent and subsequent delivery stages.