Landlords
Thurrock Selective Licensing, all you need to know...
Thurrock Council Introduce Selective Licensing
25th September 2025 Landlords, News Landlords, Licensing, Thurrock Council
Thurrock Council Introduce Selective Licensing
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 EmJen and would be happy to go through anything with you and answer any questions you may have.
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 behaviour (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 behaviour 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 EmJen 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.
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We are estate agents covering the Thurrock area which consists of Grays, Stanford-Le-Hope, Corringham, Fobbing, Basildon, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Aveley, South / North Ockenden, Purfleet, Chafford Hundred, Stifford, East Tilbury, Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stifford Clays, Chadwell st Mary and surrounding areas of Essex.
Whether you are a landlord seeking responsible, quality tenants, or a tenant searching for a home, we are here to help. Here at EmJen, as a small company you will always get to speak to either Em or Jen the director’s. With our experience, professional work ethics, combined with extensive local knowledge, we will provide a service which is second to none.
A forward looking business based on traditional values, we always strive to be at the forefront of the property letting market, and invest much time and effort in ensuring that we are fully up to date with ever changing tenancy law and government legislation. Together with our attention to detail and conscientious attitude we have the experience, resources and skills to deliver the kind of services that landlords and tenants require.
Details of some of the properties currently on our books can be found on this website, together with essential information for all clients, and a description of our services.
Feature
We never forget that the property is your most important asset and we can confidently assure you that by instructing us to act as your Letting and Management Agents your asset will be in professional and caring hands.
Because we are a small firm, we are able to offer a personal service, with attention to detail, whilst at the same time maintaining a high standard of competence and professionalism.
Our fees are competitive and may be open to negotiation dependent on the level of Service required. We are particularly committed to investment Landlords and savings can be made on the smallest of portfolios.
Drawn from a continually updated register, all prospective Tenants are thoroughly referenced and credit checked. In some cases we will also require a guarantor.
This is our inclusive Service, which provides for the marketing of the property and carrying out viewings, leading to the introduction and vetting of a prospective Tenant. This proving satisfactory, we then go ahead and prepare the tenancy agreement, and if required an inventory. The Tenant will then be checked in against the inventory.
During the tenancy we carry out periodic inspection visits. Should these bring to light any maintenance issues, we will (within the confines of our Management Agreement) arrange or recommend any necessary repairs.
Collecting and processing of rental payments is also an important part of our Full Management Service. Rental balances will be credited automatically to the Landlord’s nominated bank account.
Towards the end of the tenancy, we liaise with the Tenant, with a view to renewing the tenancy agreement, or arranging to check them out and re-advertising the property to let.
This Service is suitable for Landlords who are not residing locally, or would rather not deal with the Tenants directly, preferring all aspects to be handled by an Agent.
Our Letting Only Services includes marketing of the property and carrying out viewings, leading to the introduction and vetting of a prospective Tenant. This proving satisfactory, we then go ahead and prepare the tenancy agreement, and if required an inventory.
Following this, the first month’s rent and usually a tenancy deposit is collected and credited to the Landlord less our agreed fee. Managing the tenancy, including the maintenance and rent collection, will then be the responsibility of the Landlord.
We offer a competitive fee structure and can offer reductions on our standard charges for multiple property portfolios. Our standard charges are as follows:
Guide for Landlords
Before a property can be let, there are several matters which the owner will need to deal with to ensure that the tenancy runs smoothly, and also that he/she complies with the law. We provide summarised information, for more information subscribe now.
If you require further advice or assistance with any matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If your property is mortgaged, you should obtain your mortgagee’s written consent to the letting. They may require additional clauses in the tenancy agreement of which you must inform us.
If you are a leaseholder, you should check the terms of your lease, and obtain any necessary written consent before letting.
You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both your buildings and contents insurance. Failure to inform your insurers may invalidate your policies. We can provide information on Landlords Legal Protection, Rent Guarantee Cover and Landlords Contents and Buildings Insurance if required.
It is most important that an inventory of contents and schedule of condition be prepared, in order to avoid misunderstanding or dispute at the end of a tenancy. Without such safeguards, it will be impossible for the Landlord to prove any loss, damage, or significant deterioration of the property or contents. In order to provide a complete Service, we will if required arrange for a member of staff to prepare an inventory and schedule of condition, at the cost quoted in our Agency Agreement.
Most tenancies will automatically be Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), provided the rent is under £100,000 a year and the property is let to private individuals. Tenancies are usually granted for an initial fixed term of either 6 to 12 months. When the fixed term has expired the landlord is able to regain possession of the property provided he gives two months written notice to the tenant.
New rules on gaining possession via Section 21 apply to tenancies created on or after 1 October 2015. For more details please speak to one of our representatives.
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Are you a landlord that needs a little help! Do you have a current tenant that you may need some support with. Maybe you have some work that needs to be carried out on the property, no problem we can arrange contractors, we can make it hassle free for you and your tenant. Do you need to serve a section 21 to remove your tenants. We can help guide/support you!
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Are you relocating? Do you want peace of mind that your property is going to be looked after, why not put it in the safe hands of EmJen!
We can help find suitable tenants that have gone through EmJen’s rigorous credit checks and references. We conduct annual site inspections and provide full initial inventories of the property, so you have peace of mind your property is being looked after. Under our full management package, we will carry out any maintenance work that needs to be done.
Have you had to make the very difficult decision to put a parent into a care home, and maybe need an income to support that, but not ready to sell a family home yet! Maybe renting can help! Let EmJen help and support you to take that stress away. We offer a full rental appraisal and valuation with recommendations on maximizing the rental value. We carry out rigorous credit checks, referencing and tenant selection to ensure the best tenants are chosen. We can also take on the full management of your family home so you wont have to worry.
Are you coming together with a partner? Do you need to move back with a family member? Do you need to earn some money from your current home? If so let EmJen help you. We provide peace of mind that we will look after the property and select the best tenants who will respect the property. We carry out full inventory and condition reports and regular inspections, with our full management service. Making it hassle free for you.
Do you have a property that is costing you money? Why not let Emjen rent your property out and turn that costing into revenue!
We offer a full rental appraisal and valuation with recommendations on maximizing the rental value. We carry out rigorous credit checks, referencing and tenant selection to ensure the best tenants are chosen. We can also fully manage your property for you to make it all hassle free.
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Do You have a House of multiply occupancy? or are you thinking of turning your property into a HMO? Why not give us a call and let us guide you and even manage it for you. Call for our price list and offers.
The above is a brief summary of landlords’ responsibilities and of the laws surrounding tenanted property. We hope that you find it useful. If there are any aspects of which you are unsure, please ask us. We look forward to being of assistance to you in the letting and management of your property. If you wish you can print this page by using your browser Print option.
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