Last week, the High Court again dismissed a judicial review of the Council’s Selective Licensing Scheme and, after a hearing, ruled that the Council’s scheme was lawful.
The claimant had sought an oral hearing to challenge the High Court’s previous written decision to dismiss the claim on 13 March 2026. The decision in March allowed the Council to start to implement the Scheme.
The court has also ordered the claimant to pay the Council £7,500 in costs, which can now be recovered and used to fund council services.
Selective Licensing is designed to improve housing standards in the borough’s private rented sector and ensure safer, better-quality housing for tenants. We know most landlords will meet this standard, and the Council will continue to work with landlords to fully implement the scheme following months of uncertainty caused by the claim.
Under the Scheme, all private landlords operating within the designated areas listed below are required to obtain a licence to let their properties.
The Thurrock wards covered by the scheme are 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, and West Thurrock and South Stifford.
Help is available for anyone who thinks they might need a licence. More information and contact details for landlords are available at: thurrock.gov.uk/private-landlords/applying-for-property-licence