THURROCK Council has strenuously denied that it has breached a High Court injunction by continuing to implement and take enforcement action relating to its proposed Selective Licensing Scheme which is intended to improve the quality of rented homes in the borough.

The scheme, agreed by the council's cabinet last year, was due to come into force on Monday (5 January), requiring landlords of private rented properties in designated areas to obtain a licence to let homes. It operates in 16 wards - with Orsett, Stifford Clays, Little Thurrock Blackshots and The Homesteads omitted.

As recently reported on Thurrock Nub News representatives of landlords across the borough went to court to seek a judicial review of the scheme and a judge also applied an injunction on the council

The injunction can be read here.

Today (Tuesday, 27 January) the legal advisor to the landlords wrote to borough councillors and others, suggesting the council were ignoring the injunction.

A statement said: "We have received evidence that landlords are continuing to receive scheme-related communications asserting that their properties "require a selective licence" and setting out enforcement consequences, notwithstanding the injunction.

"By way of example, an email dated 14 January 2026 sent to a landlord states:

"Current update from Thurrock council – the scheme is on hold pending the outcome of a last-minute legal challenge… If the scheme does go ahead please read the below for next steps… Failure to obtain a licence or comply with licence conditions can result in… civil penalties… prosecution… rent repayment orders… inability to serve a Section 21 notice."

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"Such communications constitute continued implementation and/or enforcement activity and are inconsistent with the Court's Order."

That is a view strenuously denied by the council, which issued this short statement this evening: "The council has complied with the current interim injunction. It has paused implementation of the licensing scheme and kept landlords and the public informed of the factual position. It will defend any allegation made by the claimant."

One of the main complainants against the council's actions in introducing the scheme is local developer and landlord Steve Boyling, who will challenge the council's cabinet member for public protection, constitutional and civic affairs, Cllr Lynda Heath, when he asks a question at tomorrow's full council meeting.

He says: "I have tried to reach out to Councillors and Managers at this council over recent months regarding the Selective Licensing Scheme.

"As a major provider of privately rented properties in the borough, specifically Tilbury Riverside, I was appalled at the complete lack of communication, transparency and adherence to Government guidelines leading up to the introduction of the scheme.

"Attempts by managers to justify the decisions made in implementing this scheme has only resulted in further serious questions being raised.

"These concerns have all been documented in an official complaint to Thurrock Council.

"In the light of the council's apparent failure to communicate and consult in a responsible manner on their decision to introduce this Selective Licensing scheme, and pending the outcome of the complaints procedure, can the council confirm that implementation of the Selective Licensing scheme will be halted forthwith—and subsequently reviewed and amended—to ensure a fair, transparent, and comprehensive consultation process that actively seeks to involve all private landlords, agents and tenants across the borough?"

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