Thurrock Borough Council’s approved Selective Licensing Scheme for private landlords, which will come into effect from January 2026.
This scheme will apply to private rented properties in designated wards of Thurrock, requiring each property to hold a license issued by the Council.
If you have any questions, please contact me—Jak Ali, Director at Ali & Co. My team is busy with the day-to-day letting and management operations, so I will be your main point of contact on this matter.
What we now know from Thurrock Council
Here are key details from the Thurrock.gov.uk site and recent council announcements:
- The Private Rented Sector (PRS) in Thurrock now makes up about 23% of all housing in the borough.
- The Council proposes that 16 out of 20 wards will be designated for this licensing scheme. These include: 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.
- Four wards will not be included because they do not meet the legislative criteria.
- The licensing scheme is intended to address poor property conditions, high levels of anti-social behavior (ASB), and socio-economic deprivation in those designated wards.
- A public consultation was held (May–July 2025) to gather feedback from landlords, tenants, residents, and other stakeholders.
- License fee: the standard license fee is £1,034 for a five-year license.
- The scheme aims to be cost-neutral ‒ the operating and enforcement costs will be recovered through license fees.
- Thurrock Council expects approximately 15,106 private rented properties will require licensing under this scheme.
What this means for you
- If your property is in one of the designated wards, you will need a license for each property, from January 2026, in order to legally continue letting.
- You will need to provide required documentation (including safety & condition checks), comply with license conditions, manage your tenants in line with the specified standards, and pay the license fee.
License conditions & what Council expects
From the proposed license conditions published by Thurrock, you will be required to ensure:
- The property is safe, well maintained, free from hazards, and meets all relevant safety standards (gas, electrical, fire, etc.).
- Gardens, yards, and external areas are kept clean, tidy, and free from fly-tipping or neglect.
- Landlords take responsibility for anti-social behavior by tenants (noise, littering, illegal dumping, etc.).
- Licenses may include validation or inspection fees, and potentially periodic inspections or re-evaluation to ensure ongoing compliance.
How Ali & Co can help you
Because we anticipate many landlords will need assistance, we will offer a full support service to ensure you meet all obligations:
- Help you determine whether your property falls in a designated ward.
- Check that all required compliance documentation (gas safety, EPC, electrical safety, etc.) is up to date.
- Assist with completing the application paperwork, gathering all necessary supporting documents.
- Guide you on license conditions and preparing your property to meet those standards (internally & externally).
- Ensure applications are submitted correctly and on time, to avoid any enforcement action.
- Monitor developments: we will provide updates when the Council publishes the final application form or any last-minute changes.
If you would like us to take on this process on your behalf, please let us know as soon as possible so we can register your interest.
We will continue to keep you updated as more final details are released by Thurrock Council regarding the application process and license conditions.
