Private landlords

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 £30,000), prosecution, rent repayment orders etc.

Selective Licensing Wards are highlighted in green