Thurrock selective licensing challenge dismissed: 16 wards now in scope for landlord checks

The key point is now settled: Thurrock Council’s selective licensing scheme is proceeding after the High Court dismissed a second judicial review challenge. For landlords, that means the legal route to stopping the scheme has failed, and the council expects private rented homes in the designated wards to be licensed.

Which Thurrock wards landlords should check now

The immediate task is to check every Thurrock address you own or manage against the council’s designated areas. The wards named by the council are:

• Aveley & Uplands
• Belhus
• Chadwell St Mary
• Chafford & North Stifford
• Corringham & Fobbing
• East Tilbury
• Grays Riverside
• Grays Thurrock
• Little Thurrock Rectory
• Ockendon
• South Chafford
• Stanford East & Corringham Town
• Stanford-le-Hope West
• Tilbury Riverside & Thurrock Park
• Tilbury St Chads
• West Thurrock & South Stifford

If a property falls within one of those wards, treat it as potentially in scope unless Thurrock Council’s official map or scheme guidance says otherwise.

What is confirmed, and what landlords should verify with the council

What is confirmed here is the court outcome and the council’s intention to implement the scheme. What is not confirmed in the draft source material is the exact application opening date, fee level, licence duration or whether any discount applies. Those points should be checked directly on Thurrock Council’s licensing pages before a landlord submits anything or budgets for costs.

That distinction matters. Selective licensing schemes are governed by statutory rules, but each council sets its own local fee structure, conditions and process within that framework.

Selective licensing is different from HMO licensing

Selective licensing is separate from mandatory or additional HMO licensing under the Housing Act 2004. A smaller landlord with a single self-contained flat can therefore still need a licence even if the property is not an HMO, provided it falls within a designated selective licensing area.

For portfolio landlords, that is an easy point to miss. One overlooked single-let property can create the same enforcement problem as an unlicensed HMO if the address is within the designation.

Start assembling compliance documents before the application window opens

The practical step now is document gathering. Councils commonly ask for:

• a current gas safety record, where gas is installed
• an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
• an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• details of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
• tenancy agreement and deposit protection information
• management and contact details

The draft does not cite Thurrock’s full document list, so landlords should use the council’s own checklist rather than relying on what another borough requires. If an EICR or gas safety certificate is close to expiry, renewing it before applying may help avoid delays.

Budget for the fee and for possible remedial works

The source material confirms that a licence fee will apply where relevant, but does not give a figure. Landlords should therefore avoid quoting or relying on estimated fees until Thurrock Council publishes the live amount.

The larger cost can sometimes be compliance works linked to licence conditions or inspection findings. Depending on the property, this might include ventilation issues, trip hazards, repair defects or bin storage arrangements. If you manage several properties, it is sensible to review likely problem areas before the council starts inspections.

Management standards may matter as much as certificates

Licensing scrutiny is not limited to paperwork. Councils often look at wider management arrangements, including:

• how repairs are reported and logged
• arrangements for dealing with anti-social behaviour
• refuse and recycling storage
• whether the proposed licence holder satisfies the fit and proper person test

If a managing agent is involved, confirm in writing who will make the application, who will be named on it and who will deal with inspections or follow-up notices.

Prepare tenants for access requests

If inspections or remedial works are likely, tenants should be notified early that access may be needed. Written notice, clear records of access requests and up-to-date contact details all help if the council later asks what steps were taken to comply with licence conditions.

Why landlords should not ignore the scheme

The draft is right to flag enforcement risk, but landlords should always check Thurrock Council’s published approach for the detail. Under the Housing Act 2004, letting a property that should be licensed without the required licence can lead to prosecution or a civil financial penalty, and may also expose the landlord to a rent repayment order application in some cases.

A reminder for landlords operating across London and Essex

Thurrock sits outside Greater London, but the compliance lesson is familiar to landlords with homes across east London and the Essex fringe. Licensing rules vary from one authority to the next. A portfolio spread across, for example, Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Thurrock cannot safely be managed on the assumption that one set of local rules applies everywhere.

Three actions to take this week

1. Check every Thurrock property against the council’s official ward map and make a list of homes that may be in scope.
2. Gather the core compliance documents for each address, including gas safety, EICR, EPC, tenancy and deposit information.
3. Monitor Thurrock Council’s licensing page for the application date, fees and conditions, and apply promptly once the scheme opens.

This article is general information, not legal advice; always check Thurrock Council’s current scheme documents.