Appealing an Islington Landlord Licence Decision to the First-Tier Tribunal

Islington Council refused your licence application, shortened your licence to 12 months instead of five years, or issued a civil penalty notice for operating without a licence. You disagree with the decision. What happens next?

Written Representations

Before a formal appeal, written representations may be submitted within 28 days after a Notice of Intent to issue a civil penalty or a decision to refuse or shorten a licence. Use this window to explain why the council should change its decision.

This is not a formality. Some decisions are overturned at the representations stage if the landlord provides evidence the council did not have — a missing certificate that has since been obtained, a factual error in the ward designation, or proof that the fit-and-proper concerns relate to a different individual.

If the council considers your representations and still proceeds, it issues a Final Notice (for civil penalties) or a formal refusal or revocation decision. That final decision is what you appeal.

Filing the Appeal

Appeals go to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), not to Islington Council. You must file the appeal within 28 days of the Final Notice or decision being served. The 28-day deadline is strict — informal discussions with council officers, phone calls or emails do not pause or extend it.

The application is made using the Tribunal's standard forms. State the decision you are appealing and follow the form's instructions for setting out your grounds and requested outcome.

What Can You Appeal?

The appeal routes covered here are a decision to refuse or shorten a licence and a civil penalty Final Notice. Check the Tribunal's current guidance for appeal rights against other licensing decisions.

What the Tribunal Can Do

The Tribunal's powers depend on the decision being appealed. Check its current guidance for the remedies available in your case.

Costs and Practical Considerations

Fees, hearing times and the effect of an appeal on a council decision or civil penalty payment deadline depend on the appeal. Check the Tribunal's current guidance and the council's notice before acting; do not assume that filing an appeal changes those deadlines or permits continued letting.

Before You Appeal

Before appealing, assemble the evidence relevant to the decision — for example, certificates, accreditation documentation or correct occupancy details. Our Islington Landlord Licensing Guide includes the pre-application document checklist and a portal navigation walkthrough designed to prevent omissions that can lead to refusals, shortened licences and penalties.

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