The town hall will not ban Airbnb in Islington.

Martin Rutherford made this demand in the public questions section of last night’s council meeting. He was particularly worried about Airbnb lets in council estates, claiming people are abusing the system and causing disruption.

In his response, housing leader Cllr Diarmaid Ward made no mention of an Islington ban, but suggested City Hall should look at much stricter Airbnb rules in London as a whole.

Of current town hall policy, he said: “Council tenants are not permitted to sub-let their property. Therefore, if it is brought to our attention that the property is being sub-let, we will carry out an immediate investigation.”

Cllr Ward added leaseholders on estates need to apply for planning permission if they rent out their homes for more than 90 days a year. By March, he added, the council will have set up an Airbnb registration procedure so it can monitor lets.