Landlords will soon be required to join a new national register introduced by the Government as part of the Renters’ Rights Act. Known as the Private Rented Sector Database, it will hold details of landlords and their rental properties across England. Registration will be mandatory and will cost £65 per property each year.
The register will be introduced region by region from 15 December 2026. London landlords will be required to register between 15 July and 14 October 2027, although they can choose to do so earlier.
It is the latest major change following the first Renters’ Rights Act reforms in May 2026, designed to strengthen tenants’ rights and improve standards across the private rented sector.
Until now, there has been no comprehensive national record of England’s private landlords and the homes they let.
Information is currently divided between local licensing schemes, tenancy deposit providers, councils and government agencies. This can make it difficult for local authorities to identify landlords, check whether properties meet legal standards and take consistent action when homes fall into disrepair.
The Government says the database will provide a single, reliable source of information.
It is intended to help responsible landlords demonstrate compliance, give councils a clearer picture of their local rental market and enable tenants to make more informed decisions.
It should also make it more difficult for the minority of landlords who deliberately disregard their responsibilities to remain hidden.
Dirk Dette, Director of Compliance at Campions Group, says: “The database should make it harder for rogue landlords to operate, which is positive for tenants, responsible landlords and the reputation of the wider sector.
“The information being requested largely relates to obligations landlords should already be meeting. The important difference is that compliance will become more visible, making missing documents, expired certificates and inconsistencies between different records easier to identify.”
Local authorities will be able to impose a financial penalty of up to £7,000 for an initial breach of certain requirements under the Renters’ Rights Act, with higher penalties possible for serious or repeated non-compliance.
However, the database should not be viewed simply as another system of fines. Its wider purpose is to improve standards and distinguish responsible landlords from those who fail to meet their obligations.
At Chestertons, the properties we manage are inspected periodically. These visits help us identify repairs promptly, check that homes remain safe and well maintained, and address concerns before they develop into more serious or expensive problems.
Landlords of assured and regulated tenancies will need to register themselves and each rental property that is currently let or becomes let during the rollout period.
Registration will initially apply to properties that are occupied and let. However, the Government has confirmed that a later phase will require vacant properties to be registered before they can be marketed.
Future phases will also introduce unique identification numbers for landlords and properties, which will need to appear in rental advertisements. This will allow prospective tenants and local authorities to check that the relevant registrations are in place.
Landlords will have three months from the opening date for their region to complete registration.
Region | Registration opens | Deadline |
West Midlands | 15 December 2026 | 14 March 2027 |
East of England | 15 January 2027 | 14 April 2027 |
East Midlands | 15 February 2027 | 14 May 2027 |
South East | 15 March 2027 | 14 June 2027 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 15 April 2027 | 14 July 2027 |
North West | 15 May 2027 | 14 August 2027 |
North East | 15 June 2027 | 14 September 2027 |
London | 15 July 2027 | 14 October 2027 |
South West | 15 August 2027 | 14 November 2027 |
The applicable date is determined by the location of the rental property, not the landlord’s home address.
Portfolio landlords with properties in several regions may therefore face different deadlines. Alternatively, they can register all their properties early once the service becomes available nationally on 15 December 2026.
After the relevant deadline, local authorities will be able to take enforcement action against landlords who have not registered.
Registration must be renewed annually. During the initial rollout, fees will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis for landlords who register before their regional deadline.
Landlords will require a GOV.UK One Login account and will be asked to provide personal or company details, together with information about each rental property.
Individual landlords will need to provide their full name, residential address, date of birth, telephone number and email address.
Property information will include:
The address, property type and ownership details
The number of bedrooms and occupancy information
Whether the property is furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished
The rent and payment frequency
Details of any applicable property licence
Landlords will also need to provide evidence of compliance, including:
A current Gas Safety Certificate
A valid Electrical Installation Condition Report or Electrical Installation Certificate
A current Energy Performance Certificate
Details of any Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards exemption
HMO, selective or additional licensing information, where applicable
Landlords should check that the names, addresses and ownership details used across these documents are accurate and consistent. Even where the necessary safety work has been completed, missing records or conflicting information could cause difficulties during registration.
Dirk adds: “Landlords should treat this as a data and document exercise, not something to begin a few days before the deadline. Check now that certificates are current, property details are accurate and any licence applications or renewals have been completed.
“Good compliance depends on being able to demonstrate what was done and when. A contractor’s invoice or an informal email exchange will not necessarily replace the certificate or prescribed record required by law.”
At present, the legal responsibility remains with the landlord. The Government has said landlords must begin and complete the registration process themselves. They will also remain legally responsible for ensuring that the information submitted is accurate, complete and kept up to date.
Agents and property managers are expected to be able to upload certain information and assist with elements of the process. However, the Government has not yet confirmed the full extent of agent access or responsibilities.
Where Chestertons manages a property, we hope to be able to support landlords with aspects of registration once further guidance has been published.
The database forms part of a broader transformation of the private rented sector.
Since May 2026, landlords have already had to adapt to the abolition of Section 21, the introduction of periodic tenancies, new rent-increase procedures, restrictions on rental bidding and strengthened protection against discrimination.
Further reforms, including the Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman, will follow. The common theme is greater accountability, supported by clearer records and stronger enforcement.
London landlords do not need to register immediately, but they should begin preparing. Review the documentation for every property, confirm expiry dates, identify any missing licensing information and ensure ownership and contact details are up to date. Portfolio landlords should also create a central schedule showing where each property is located and which deadline applies.
Chestertons branches will continue to monitor the rollout and provide updates as further government guidance becomes available. With early preparation and experienced support, landlords should be able to complete registration accurately and with minimal disruption.