DIY InventoryLetting a property in Thurrock: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Thurrock.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Thurrock
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in designated wards (16 wards are reported) from 5 January 2026 to 4 January 2031. A High Court judge refused permission for a judicial review in March 2026, and the deadline to apply was extended to 31 March 2026. Check the council's ward list for a property.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing is reported to cover 20 wards from 7 September 2025 to 6 September 2030; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence across the borough.
- Fees: around £1,002 for a selective licence (2025/26 fee table), with a higher rate for landlords found operating unlicensed and a £500 surcharge for paper applications
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Thurrock Council.
Thurrock Council: private renting and licensing
Safety certificates
- Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
- EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
- Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Thurrock at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.
Deposits and the inventory
Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.
What to record in Thurrock homes
- Homes in the selective licensing wards: record smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and keep the licence, gas and EICR certificates with the report.
- Flats in Chafford Hundred and Purfleet: note fob and key counts, allocated parking, bin store access and communal area condition.
- Post-war estate homes in South Ockendon and Tilbury: check window seals, boiler cupboards and any condensation or mould on outside walls.
- Victorian terraces in Grays: photograph back yards, rear walls and any damp in rear rooms.
- Small HMOs in the additional licensing wards: record each bedroom lock and key, fire doors and the shared kitchen.
Homes sold in Thurrock in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 549 | £334,809 |
| Semi-detached | 435 | £406,889 |
| Flat or maisonette | 294 | £202,157 |
| Detached | 155 | £656,209 |
| Other | 48 | £1,244,279 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Thurrock: questions
Is there selective licensing in Thurrock?
Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in designated wards (16 wards are reported) from 5 January 2026 to 4 January 2031. A High Court judge refused permission for a judicial review in March 2026, and the deadline to apply was extended to 31 March 2026. Check the council's ward list for a property. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Thurrock?
A Gas Safety certificate every 12 months (where there is gas), an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, and a valid EPC rated E or above, plus working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances.
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits, with the prescribed information given to the tenant in the same 30 days.
Do I need an inventory as a landlord in Thurrock?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but without a signed check-in record it is very hard to claim anything from the deposit at the end. With DIY Inventory you can do it yourself for £30, or send your tenant a link to do it.