A COLLECTIVE of Thurrock housing landlords have been ordered to pay Thurrock Council's legal costs after their latest attempt to disrupt the authority's selective licensing scheme failed.

The controversial scheme which opponents says is unnecessary, unfair and financially punitive on local landlords, has had a rough ride since it was first drafted last year and introduced in January.

It requires landlords in designated areas to apply for a licence — costing £1,034 for five years — with the council saying it aims to drive up housing standards and tackle rogue landlords. Enforcement powers allow the council to revoke licences where properties fail to meet minimum standards.

Under the scheme, all private landlords operating within the designated areas listed below are required to obtain a licence to let their properties.

The project has been regarded as highly controversial and several individual landlords with a significant personal holding of properties - and others who have joined together as a collective, took action to challenge the scheme's legitimacy and the method of its implementation.

Thurrock Nub News reported on the controversy in detail earlier this year

The objectors, a collective of 193 local landlords and letting agents, with Junaid Ishfaq (a partner at the letting agency Rentigo) and legal advisor Akisia Divine acting as the primary coordinators and representatives, took their case for a judicial review to the High Court, which prompted an interim injunction.

However, the application was rejected by the court and the scheme resumed in March – only for the objectors to try again to stop it, though the council were allowed to implement it in the interim.

Last week, the High Court again dismissed a judicial review of the scheme and, after a hearing, ruled the council's scheme was lawful.

The court has also ordered the claimant to pay the council £7,500 in costs, which the authority says will be recovered and used to fund council services.

Today (Wednesday, 29 July), the council said: "Selective licensing is designed to improve housing standards in the borough's private rented sector and ensure safer, better-quality housing for tenants. We know most landlords will meet this standard, and the council will continue to work with landlords to fully implement the scheme following months of uncertainty caused by the claim.

"Areas covered by the scheme, which was implemented before electoral boundary changes, are the formerly designated wards in Aveley and Uplands, Belhus, Chadwell St Mary, Chafford and North Stifford, Corringham and Fobbing, East Tilbury, Grays Riverside, Grays Thurrock, Little Thurrock Rectory, Ockendon, South Chafford, Stanford East and Corringham Town, Stanford-le-Hope West, Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park, Tilbury St Chads, and West Thurrock and South Stifford.

"Help is available for anyone who thinks they might need a licence. More information and contact details for landlords are available at: thurrock.gov.uk/private-landlords/applying-for-property-licence."

A timeline of related stories:-

13 March 2026: Council claims victory and says landlords scheme battle is over: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/council-declares-licence-battle-is-over-and-warn-property-landlords-they-face-a-ps30k-fine-290410

19 Feb 2026: Council resumes scheme: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/council-emerges-victorious-from-high-court-and-will-now-implement-controversial-landlord-scheme-288268

30 January 2026: Controversy continues: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/controversy-continues-over-selective-housing-scheme-with-landlords-and-council-offering-differing-opinions-2864258

27 January 2026: Council denies breach: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/council-denies-breach-of-court-injunction-on-its-selective-housing-scheme-286132

8 January 2026: Scheme put on hold: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/councils-showcase-housing-landlords-licensing-scheme-put-on-hold-in-the-wake-of-huge-concerns-and-high-court-injunction-284325

20 Sptember 2025: Council launches Selective Housing Scheme: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/council-takes-action-to-crack-down-on-rogue-landlords-272717

13 May 2025: Councillor sings praises of proposed scheme: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/councillor-sings-praises-of-initiative-that-will-mean-provate-landlords-have-to-up-standards-260059