Islington Licence Application Processing Time: How Long Does It Take?

You have assembled every certificate, filled out every portal field and paid the Part A fee. Now you wait. The question every self-managing landlord in Islington asks at this point is: how long until the licence is actually granted?

When the Application Counts as "Made"

Under section 63(1) (for HMO licences) and section 87(1) (for selective licences) of the Housing Act 2004, an application is legally "made" when three conditions are satisfied: the portal form is fully completed, all mandatory safety certificates are uploaded, and the Part A fee payment is processed. A draft saved in the online system does not count.

Once complete and paid, the application is legally made. A draft saved in the portal does not afford legal protection against enforcement or prosecution. If you are relying on a pending application, confirm with the council what protection applies while it is being processed.

Typical Processing Times

Do not rely on an 8-to-16-week estimate; check the council portal for the status of your application.

Applications for the 2026 selective licensing scheme opened on 7 September 2026 ahead of its 23 November commencement date. The new additional HMO licensing scheme began on 1 February 2026, after the previous designation expired on 31 January 2026.

What Causes Delays

Missing or expired documents. An uploaded certificate that has expired since you scanned it, or a document that does not match the council's requirements, can delay an application. An EICR must show a satisfactory result and C1 or C2 defects must be rectified; a gas safety record must be no more than 12 months old, and the EPC must meet Band E unless a valid exemption is registered.

Incomplete statutory notifications. Before submitting, applicants must serve written notice on all "relevant persons" — freeholders, head lessees, mortgage lenders and managing agents with an interest in the property. If the council's checks reveal a notifiable party you did not declare, processing stops until the notification is served and certified.

Fit-and-proper concerns. Previous housing offences, civil penalties in other boroughs, or unresolved enforcement action may require additional review during the fit-and-proper person assessment.

Portal technical issues. Islington's online licensing portal has a documented history of session timeouts and system errors. An incomplete submission caused by a portal crash means the application is not validly made — and the clock does not start until you log back in and complete it.

What to Do While You Wait

Continue meeting all safety requirements while you wait. If the application is pending, confirm with the council what rules apply to the property during processing; the council can inspect it as part of compliance checks.

Document the date and time you completed the application, take a screenshot of the confirmation page, and keep the Part A payment receipt. These records help establish when you submitted the application; confirm with the council if you are unsure whether it was validly made.

Our Islington Landlord Licensing Guide includes a pre-application document checklist and a portal navigation walkthrough to help reduce the risk of incomplete submissions.

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