Finding a Home

Finding a place to live can be a very stressful experience and not knowing what your options are can add to this. Although we are committed to helping applicants find safe and secure accommodation that is suited to their situation, there is a shortage of properties in the borough and a huge demand.

We cannot offer accommodation to most applicants who apply to us for housing, so we have brought together a wide range of housing options to explore. This is not a full list of options. However, for most people it is a starting point and will point them in the right direction to finding accommodation that suits their needs.

You can start by clicking the links under the main menu, on the left-hand side of this page.

Applying for Islington Council's Housing Register

If you would like an indication of how many points you may be entitled to before deciding whether to make an application, please click on the link to self-assessment below:

Housing Options Team
Tel: 020 7527 4140

You can make an application for the Housing Register in the following ways.

• Download a copy of the application form at the bottom of this page
• Book an appointment to see a Housing Options Officer
• Make an application over the telephone

For appointments and telephone applications, please call the number below:

Housing Options Appointment Line
Tel: 020 7527 4140

Open 9.30am – 12.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays.

Please note: these appointments are for new applications only, if you have already applied for housing with Islington Council, please call 020 7527 4140 and ask to speak with your case worker. 

Anti-fraud policy

Statement of intent

This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers. In cases of fraudulent housing or homeless applications where a tenancy has been obtained, the council will seek repossession of the property and recovery of financial losses.

The Council’s view is that one property lost to fraud is one less property available for use for genuine applicants.

Fraud committed by housing and homeless applicants will be considered for civil recovery / criminal prosecution and compensation will be sought via the courts.

Action on the Allocation of Housing Assistance

In some instances, housing assistance or extra benefits will have been obtained from the Council where there is no entitlement, e.g. due to a change of circumstances. This may have been done without planning, but with knowledge that the changes in personal circumstances may effect any housing assistance entitlement and that the change should have been reported to the Council.

Under these circumstances, the Council will consider the particulars of the case and, where the applicant could reasonably be expected to know that the failure to report the change in their circumstance which would cause in the allocation of housing assistance, the Council will consider prosecution under the s.171 or s.214 of the Housing Act 1996, s. 2 and 3 of the Fraud Act 2006 and other criminal offences.

In some circumstances, it is not in the public interest to take action against a person who has made either a false application, or has failed to report a change in circumstances which has resulted in them obtaining housing assistance to which they were not entitled. Under these circumstances, the Council ill seek to recover any services charges and accommodation awarded as a direct result.

Obtaining information

The Council will use all the powers granted to the Council by the Secretary of State for Housing under the Housing Act 1996 to protect the public funds that it administers.

Working in partnership with other organisations

Where necessary, the Council will work in co-operation with other organisations such as the Police, Department for Work and Pensions, H M Revenue and Customs in order to combat organised fraud.

The Data Protection Act

The Council will use exemption 29(3), in order to protect those organisations that may have information to supply the Council in its investigation of fraud in relation to housing services.

Human Rights Act

The Council will ensure all those being investigated will have their civil liberties observed in accordance with the Human Rights Act 1998, Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Duties and considerations of anti-fraud officers

When investigating fraud, Council Fraud Investigators, will work within the guidelines of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and apply the Council’s policies on equal opportunities and customer care. The Council’s officers will at all times apply appropriate procedures to maintain confidentiality.

It is the duty of the fraud investigators, to investigate all referrals of suspected or alleged housing accommodation fraud and to establish the facts of each case.

Your Guide To Finding A Home

Sections from the guide are available to download separately at the bottom of this page. They'll help you find out what choices you have when looking for a place to live. In Islington there are a number of options and schemes that you can take advantage of to help make finding a home affordable.

You can also request a printed copy of the guide by sending an email to rehousing@islington.gov.uk or by calling 020 7527 4140. 

Housing Advice

If you have a housing problem or consider yourself homeless (or about to be), you can contact the Housing Aid Centre for advice and an assessment of your circumstances. Call 020 7527 2000 or email advice.housing@islington.gov.uk

For more information, click the Housing Advice link on the right, under Related Information. 

Information About Moving Home for Council and Housing Association Tenants

If you live in a council or housing association property, and want to move, click on the Moving Home for Council and Housing Association link on the right, under Related Information, for details and options.

Alternatively you can call the Housing Options Team on 020 7527 4140 or email rehousing@islington.gov.uk  

Free Internet Access

There are a number of ways that you can access the internet for free in Islington, from libraries to internet cafes.

For more information, click on the Free Internet Access link on the right, under Related Information. 

Housing Options Bulletin

The quarterly bulletin is designed to update the teams’ partners on the existing and new Housing Options services offered by council. The bulletin is a new project for the Housing Options teams so we would really like to know whether you found the bulletin useful and how you think it should be improved.

Download the latest Housing Options Bulletin issue by clicking the link on the left under Finding A Home. 

Note on Downloadable Documents

Please note, that some of the documents available to download in the Housing section may still contain & refer to the Housing Aid Centre's previous address (38 Devonia Road). The new address is: