Selective licensing in Southend-on-Sea
Yes. Southend-on-Sea operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need a selective licence in Southend-on-Sea?
Yes. Southend-on-Sea operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Southend-on-Sea does the scheme cover?
Neighbourhoods within Milton, Kursaal, Victoria and Chalkwell wards. Designation made 18 March 2021. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Southend-on-Sea's scheme end?
The designation runs until 30 November 2026, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£830. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Southend-on-Sea before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £208 |
| Part B | £622 |
| Total | £830 |
Southend-on-Sea — southend.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
Southend-on-Sea operates a selective licensing scheme that came into force on 1 December 2021 and runs until 30 November 2026, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004. It covers specific neighbourhoods within the wards of Milton, Kursaal, Victoria and Chalkwell rather than the whole of those wards, so an address inside one of those wards is not automatically inside the scheme. The council is reviewing the scheme's impact close to the end of its five-year term, and no renewal, replacement or extension has been designated. Separately it has consulted on whether additional HMO licensing would improve housing conditions further; that consultation has closed and no outcome has been published.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Southend-on-Sea before letting.