The Private Rented Sector Database will begin rolling out from December this year – requiring all landlords to sign up.
If you’ve been following the Renters’ Right Act, you’ll know that the government are implementing a mandatory nationwide database, which all landlords must sign up for in order to let out their property.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as or relied upon as advice.
Contents:
When is it rolling out?
This landlord database is being delivered as part of phase 2 of the Renters Rights Act and will be rolled out regionally, starting with the West Midlands on 15th December 2026.
Here are the release dates and deadlines for each region:
Do you need to sign up?
Landlords in each region will be asked to sign up to the register, which is expected to document their rental property, whether it is licensed, all safety certificates, and how much it rents for.
Tenanted properties must sign up to this ‘Register Your Property Service’, including all existing tenancies and any that were started during the ‘roll out’ period.
Vacant homes which are being marketed to let do not need to be registered at this stage – though this is likely to change once the register is fully implemented, as rental properties will need a registration number in order to be advertised.
What landlords need to know
When a region is called to register, landlords with let properties in that area will have a 3-month window to sign up. All landlords in England will need to have registered by 14 November 2027.
Failure to sign up as a landlord with a tenanted property could result in fines.
Letting agents cannot register properties on behalf of a landlord. Registration must be completed by the landlord themself.
Whilst letting agents cannot register properties on behalf of the landlord, we do expect to be able to assist in this process to minimise the burden on the landlord.
We will be in contact with our managed clients as and when we get further information and in the meantime, please contact us to discuss how we can help you throughout this process.
In the future, prospective tenants will be able to check if a landlord is registered, which is intended to give renters more confidence that a landlord is following the rules.
There will also be a fee involved when registering a property: £65 per property, per year.
Why is this being implemented?
Government guidance states that this phase of the Renters’ Rights Act is intended to provide private renters with “stronger protections, greater transparency, and more confidence in the homes they rent”.
The stated objectives of the register include:
- Improving compliance and enforcement by providing local authorities with clearer information about rental properties and landlords, enabling them to identify and address non-compliance more effectively.
- Increasing transparency for renters by allowing prospective tenants to check that a property meets the required legal and safety standards before entering into a tenancy.
- Supporting compliant landlords by providing a framework through which landlords can demonstrate that they are meeting their legal obligations.
- Addressing data gaps by creating a more comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the private rented sector across England.
In addition, the register will provide government and local authorities with a significant source of information about the rental market. If widely adopted, it could offer detailed insights into the location and distribution of privately rented homes at a local level.
This information may be used to inform future housing policy decisions, including considerations around measures such as Article 4 Directions and selective licensing schemes.
The data collected may also help provide greater visibility of local rental markets. Information on rents could be made available to local authorities and the First-tier Tribunal, potentially assisting in the assessment of local market rents and, where relevant, consideration of rent increase disputes.
Conclusion – Will this improve or worsen the PRS?
The long-term impact of the landlord database on the private rented sector (PRS) will largely depend on how it is implemented and how effectively it is maintained and enforced.
Supporters of the measure argue that it forms part of a broader programme of reforms aimed at increasing transparency within the PRS and providing clearer information about landlords’ obligations and property standards. The register is intended to complement other proposed initiatives, including the PRS Ombudsman and the Decent Homes Standard.
The government’s position is that these measures will help improve standards across the sector, provide greater accountability, and make it easier for tenants, landlords and local authorities to access relevant information. For landlords, the register may provide a means of demonstrating compliance with legal requirements, while tenants may benefit from increased visibility of property and safety information.
As with any significant regulatory change, views on its effectiveness are likely to vary, and its overall impact will become clearer once the system is fully operational and sufficient data is available to assess its outcomes.
Following the introduction of the database, the next phase of the Renters’ Rights Act is expected to include the launch of the PRS Ombudsman, which is currently anticipated to be introduced in 2028.
For more information on how the government plans to implement the landlord register, read the government’s press statement here.
Last Updated: 20/10/26