East of England · Council licensing
Southend-on-Sea operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities. Check the council for the current fee.
Southend-on-Sea City Council operates an active selective licensing scheme designated on 18 March 2021, in force from 1 December 2021 and due to expire on 30 November 2026 (unless revoked earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004). The designation is known as "Southend Borough Council Designation of an Area for Selective Licensing 2021". It applies to designated streets within the wards of Milton, Kursaal, Victoria and Chalkwell. All privately rented residential accommodation within the designated area must be licensed unless subject to statutory exemption — this includes properties occupied by one or two individuals or a single family. Properties already licensed under the mandatory HMO regime are exempt from the selective licence requirement (each property is only subject to one type of residential licensing). Landlords must apply for a separate licence for each rental property, including each individual flat in a multi-unit building. The designation was made under the Secretary of State's General Approval 2015 and did not require Secretary of State confirmation. Operating an unlicensed property in the designated area is a criminal offence. Landlords can check if a property is in scope using the council's online address map.
Areas: Milton, Kursaal, Victoria, and Chalkwell wards - specific neighbourhoods within these wards for families living in private rented homes
Scheme runs until: 30 November 2026
No additional licensing scheme is currently in force.
Source: Southend-on-Sea licensing page →
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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