Selective Licensing Scheme

Selective licensing applies to all privately rented residential properties occupied by:

• one or two persons
• one family households located in selected area across the city

Please see map of the designated area to check if your property falls within the Selective Licencing Scheme area. If your address is highlighted in blue it will require a licence.

Landlords must apply for a licence for each property they rent out in these wards. This includes multiple rented flats in the same block or building. Each separate flat in a building will need its own individual licence.

There are a number of properties that will be exempt from licensing. Information on this can be found on the Gov.uk website.

Important

• all property safety requirements and size standards continue to apply
• if your property is already licensed as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) under Southend's mandatory HMO licensing scheme, you do not need to apply for a selective licence. Each property is only subject to one type of residential licensing scheme
• there is a separate process for HMO Licencing and you can apply for this type of licence on our HMO page.