Selective licensing in Thurrock

Yes. Thurrock operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.

Legal basis
Housing Act 2004, section 80
Areas covered
Aveley and Uplands, Belhus, Chadwell St Mary, Chafford and North Stifford, Corringham and Fobbing, East Tilbury, Grays Riverside, Grays Thurrock, Little Thurrock Rector, 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
Last verified
4 Aug 2026

What the designation says

Thurrock Council operates a selective licensing scheme that went live in January 2026, covering sixteen wards. Every privately rented property in a designated ward needs a licence before it is let, apart from houses in multiple occupation already covered by the mandatory or additional schemes. Applications opened on 1 November 2025. The council consulted between May and July 2025 before deciding to proceed. Nearly a quarter of all homes in the borough are privately rented, so the scheme reaches a large share of local landlords. Check the specific address against the council's ward list rather than assuming from the town name.

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 £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Thurrock's own licensing page →

Free compliance audit →Five questions, no sign-up. Every duty that applies to your property, licensing included.Check your tenancy agreement →Unlicensed letting invalidates a section 21 notice. We check the agreement against current law.

Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Thurrock before letting.