Southend Council has launched a consultation into plans for a new selective licensing scheme to extend across more areas of the city.

The existing scheme began on 1 December 2021 and covers designated neighbourhoods within Milton, Kursaal, Victoria and Chalkwell wards. The new proposal retains parts of all four existing wards and includes additional neighbourhoods that weren’t covered by the previous designation. The proposed area contains 5,685 privately rented households, representing 51% of all households.

An independent evaluation found that by August 2025, 4,394 licences had been issued. The council says there was a marked increase in formal enforcement activity during the life of the current selective scheme, with 138 formal enforcement interventions undertaken. It records that 1,896 properties had received initial compliance inspections and 1,689 housing hazards were identified, none of which had previously been reported to the council by tenants.

Mixed

However, it admits that some findings were mixed. Between 2019 and 2024, seven of the nine designated areas recorded reductions in ASB rates, one remained broadly stable and one worsened slightly. Meanwhile, five of the nine areas experienced reductions in noise-related incidents, two remained broadly stable and two worsened.

Landlords also raised concerns about the costs and administrative requirements associated with licensing and the consistency and timeliness of council communication

Expect

Council leader Daniel Cowan (pictured) says paying rent should mean being able to expect a property that is properly maintained and a landlord who takes their responsibilities seriously. He adds: “My administration wants to build on selective licensing and extend its reach so more residents benefit from better housing standards. Responsible landlords deserve a level playing field, without being undercut by those who neglect their properties or tenants.”

Southend wants landlords to contribute to its consultation which closes on 31 December. It is working towards possible implementation from 1 April 2027 and admits there will be a gap between the existing scheme ending and any replacement beginning.

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