Thurrock Selective Licensing Renewal: Scheme Dates and Licence Expiry

Scheme Duration

Thurrock runs three licensing schemes, each with different timelines:

Selective licensing came into force in January 2026 and expires in January 2031. It covers single-household lets in 16 designated wards.

Additional HMO licensing started on 7 September 2025 and runs until 6 September 2030. It covers smaller HMOs (3–4 occupants from 2+ households) across all 20 wards.

Mandatory HMO licensing has no fixed end date. It is a continuous national requirement for larger HMOs (5+ occupants from 2+ households) and applies across the entire borough permanently.

Individual Licence Terms

A property licence lasts up to five years from the date the council grants it, not from the date you apply. If you applied in March 2026 and the licence was granted in June 2026, it runs until June 2031.

The council can also issue shorter licences — one-year or three-year terms — if there are concerns about the landlord's management standards, fit-and-proper status or compliance history. A shorter licence costs less but renews sooner.

There Is No Automatic Renewal

A licence expires at the end of its term with no automatic continuation. Do not rely on a council reminder; track the expiry date and submit a fresh application before the licence lapses.

Letting a licence expire and continuing to operate the property is an offence. You face civil penalties and rent repayment order exposure. Since 1 May 2026, landlords seeking possession of a private assured tenancy must use an applicable Section 8 ground; new Section 21 notices are no longer available.

What Happens When the Scheme Ends

Thurrock's selective licensing designation is scheduled to end in January 2031. If the council chooses to continue the scheme, it must run a fresh statutory consultation and make a new designation. Check with the council about the status of any individual licence as the current designation end date approaches.

Whether Thurrock will renew its selective and additional licensing designations is a political decision that the council will make closer to the expiry dates. The current schemes are in full force through 2030 and 2031 respectively.

Planning Ahead

If your licence was granted early in the scheme's term, it should remain valid for the full five years without any action from you beyond maintaining compliance with licence conditions. Track the expiry date, set a reminder several months before and prepare your renewal documents in advance.

For the complete fee schedule, document checklist and application process for new and renewal applications, see our Thurrock landlord licensing guide.

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