Assets of community value

An asset of community value is a public or private building or piece of land that is important to the local community.

Examples of an asset of community value are:

• community centres
• pubs
• sports facilities
• cultural venues
• local shops or services that bring people together such as Post Offices and independent shops

Houses, flats and other residential property cannot be assets of community value.

Some community groups can ask the council to add a property to the list of assets of community value, under the Localism Act 2011.

See the list of assets

You can view our list of assets of community value in Islington. It includes any nominations and what stage they are at.

How to nominate an asset of community value

Who can nominate a building or land

You must be part of a community organisation to nominate a building or piece of land you think is important to the community. 

A community organisation can be a: 

• charity 
• neighbourhood forum
• an unincorporated group with at least 21 local members 

To prove your organisation can nominate an asset you must give us as much information as you can.

Prove a local connection 

Your organisation must have a local connection to Islington. You need proof that you bring benefits to the people in our borough. 

Benefit to the borough 

Your organisation must not be run for profit and its purpose should bring benefit to Islington. For example, a local charity or a community interest company. 

Rules for an unincorporated body 

An unincorporated body must:  

• be local – all members must be on the electoral roll in Islington or nearby boroughs Camden, Hackney, Haringey and the City of London 
• have at least 21 members
• not distribute profit to its members

If you are an unincorporated body, fill in this form and return it with the nomination form. You must make sure each name is clear and that the form is signed by each member. Make sure to write on the form somewhere what nomination it is for.

Filling in the nomination form

When you nominate a building or piece of land, you have to explain how the nomination meets legal rules.

Site information and owner details

You should also include information about the site and who owns it. 

We need information like: 

• the address and location of the asset 
• a map or plan showing the asset boundaries 
• Land Registry details, if available 
• a description of any buildings or land as part of the nomination
• details of which parts of the property have value to the community 

Only include parts of the property that add value to the community. For example, flats above a pub that are not related to community use should not be included. 

Make sure that 

• community use is not just an extra or add-on to the main use of the property - for example, an office building that lets a residents association hold a monthly meeting there is not a community asset
• the asset is not exempt from nomination, for example if it’s a residential property

What counts as community value

An asset should: 

• support the social wellbeing or interests of the local community, and this use is likely to continue
• have already supported the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community recently, and this could continue within the next 5 years

Proof for your nomination

You must provide evidence to support your nomination. 

Examples may include: 

• community activities held at the site 
• local groups or organisations that use the asset 
• events, services or facilities for local residents 
• information that shows ongoing benefit to the community benefit 

Send your nomination form

Nominate an asset

Remember to fill in this form signed by all members if you are nominating as an unincorporated body. We cannot look at your nomination without this.

After you send a nomination

We will decide if your nominated asset meets the legal rules within 8 weeks of you sending your nomination. 

We must make sure that how the asset has been used benefits the social wellbeing or interests of the local community and if it will keep being used that way. 

We also tell the owner, occupiers and leaseholders about the nomination.

Decision and adding to the list

If we agree with the nomination, we will add it to our list of assets of community value. This lasts for 5 years.

All assets on the list expire after 5 years and will have to be nominated again for us to review.

We will tell the owner, occupier and nominating organisation before making the listing public.

If the nomination is unsuccessful, the asset is placed on a list of unsuccessful nominations.

Owner's right to review

Property owners can ask us to review a listing decision within 8 weeks.

If after a review, an owner is still not happy, they can appeal to an independent tribunal. The asset stays on the list during a review or appeal.

Listing an asset does not stop it being sold to anyone you want or the price you can sell it for. It does delay a sale for up to 8 months so that community groups can prepare their own bid.

If the owner wants to sell

Owners must tell us when they put up a listed asset for sale.

We will publicise the sale and tell the group that nominated the asset.

Qualifying community groups then have 6 weeks to express an interest in bidding for the asset (an 'interim moratorium period').

If the community wants to buy

If there is an expression of interest from a community group, there will be 6 months (a moratorium) where they can prepare a bid. 

The owner does not have to accept a community bid and can sell the asset to anyone when the 6 months are up.