Private landlords

NOTICE: March 2026:  A High Court Judge refused permission for a Judicial Review to challenge the Selective Licensing scheme. The challenge did not proceed and we have now resumed the scheme. We are encouraging landlords to apply before the application window closes at 5.00pm  on Tuesday 31 March. Applying after this date may result in a higher fee or not submitting an application and operating without a licence may result in a fine.

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.

Selective Licence Wards 

The scheme runs in the following 16 wards. There is also a map at the bottom of this page. 

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.

What's the difference between the property licences in Thurrock?

1. Mandatory HMO Licensing

• Applies to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) that meet the legal “mandatory” definition: properties occupied by 5 or more people forming two or more households.
• For such properties in Thurrock: a licence is required.
• Key features:
  
  • Licences last up to 5 years (unless circumstances change) in the HMO context.
  • Operating a licensable HMO without a licence is an offence; the council may issue a civil penalty up to £30,000 or prosecution.
  • The landlord (or managing person) must be a “fit and proper person” and the property must meet certain management/amenity standards.

2. Additional HMO Licensing

• This covers HMOs that do not meet the “5+ persons / 2+ households” threshold but are still HMOs in the sense of 3 or 4 people in 2 or more households. In Thurrock, this scheme began on 7 September 2025 for all wards.
• So: any HMO with 3 or 4 occupants from 2+ households (that might previously have been unlicensed) must now apply for a licence.
• Key points:
  
  • The scheme is a 5-year designation.
  • Same kind of legal consequences: unlicensed operation may lead to enforcement action.
  • Covers all wards in the borough (so any property of this type across Thurrock).

3. Selective Licensing for the Private Rented Sector

• This covers all other privately rented properties which are not HMOs (or already captured by the HMO schemes) but lie within designated wards. In Thurrock: 16 of the 20 wards have been designated.
• The scheme is due to become enforceable from January 2026, with applications being accepted now.
• Key features:
  
  • All landlords/managing agents of let properties in designated wards must apply for a licence (unless exempt).
  • Some exemptions: properties already licensable under HMO schemes; owner-occupied; holiday lets; long-lease business tenancies; etc.
  • The licence duration is up to 5 years.
  • Enforcement: failure to licence or comply can lead to civil penalties (up to £40,000), prosecution, rent repayment orders etc.

Selective Licensing Wards are highlighted in green