Selective Licensing Scheme
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The Selective Licensing Scheme started on 1 November 2025 and we will be accepting applications from this date. The scheme will be live and in force from 5 January 2026. A Selective Licence costs £1,034.90 and lasts for up to 5 years. |
Visit this page for more information on how to apply and what documents are needed: Applying for a property licence | Private landlords | Thurrock Council
For more details about fees, please see our Licence Fees and Charges page.
If you are a landlord renting out residential property in the borough (that is not a Mandatory or Additional HMO), you must apply to the Council for a Selective Licence.
View the conditions for licensed properties:
Selective licensing covers all privately rented households, whether occupied by single adults, couples, or families.
Definition of a Family Member
A person is considered a family member if they live with someone as a couple, are related to that person, or are related to a member of the couple.
| Couple | Two people who are married, in a civil partnership, or living together as partners. |
| Relative | Parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or first cousin. |
| Siblings | Half or full brothers and sisters are treated the same. |
| Stepchildren | Treated the same as birth children. |
Selective Licence Wards
The scheme runs in the following 16 wards. There is also a map at the bottom of this page.
| Aveley and Uplands | Belhus | Chadwell St Mary | Chafford and North Stifford |
| Corringham and Fobbing | East Tilbury | Grays Riverside | Grays Thurrock |
| Little Thurrock Rectory | Ockendon | South Chafford | Stanford East and Corringham Town |
| Stanford le Hope West | Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park | Tilbury St Chads | West Thurrock and South Stifford |
Do I need a Selective Property Licence? Could I be exempt?
You do not need to apply for a Selective Property Licence or ask the Council for an exemption if your property is in one of these wards:
1. Little Thurrock Blackshots
2. Orsett
3. Stifford Clays
4. The Homesteads
All privately rented properties in other selective licensing wards must have a licence, no matter their size or who is living there.
Landlords who rent out a property without the correct licence could face prosecution and may lose the right to operate their business.
Selective Licensing Exemptions
In some situations, a property may not need a Selective Licence. Examples include:
• Buildings controlled or managed by a Local Housing Authority
• Buildings controlled or managed by Police.
• Buildings controlled or managed by fire brigade
• Buildings controlled or managed by Health Service Body
• Certain University/College accommodation occupied by students
• Where the owner or his relatives occupy a property on a long leasehold
• Where landlord lets to certain relatives
• Holiday Homes
• Where landlord/licensor or his relative lives at the property and shares facilities with a maximum of two lodgers
Exemptions from the Selective Licensing scheme are set out here: The Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006
If your property meets the requirement of ‘full exemption’, please complete a Declaration form and email it to: selectivelicensing@thurrock.gov.uk for further assessment. Please provide any required documentation to support your claim.
What You Need to Do
Find out about property licensing in Thurrock and how to apply for a licence if you rent out a property privately.
Please note: You may need a licence for your rental property. If you rent out a property without a valid licence, you could face a financial penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine in court.
Selective Licensing Wards are highlighted in green
