Following months of discussion around the introduction of a new national landlord database, the Government has now confirmed when registration will begin.
The new Register Your Rental Property service will launch on 15 December 2026, starting with properties in the West Midlands before being rolled out across England region by region during 2027.
For landlords, this is the next significant stage of the Renters Rights reforms. Importantly, the phased introduction means there is time to prepare.
What Is the New PRS Database?
The new service will create a national record of private landlords and the properties they let.
Landlords will be required to register themselves and their rental properties, providing information about the property and its tenancy together with key compliance information.
The aim is to give local authorities better information about privately rented properties in their area, help them identify landlords who are not meeting their responsibilities and, in time, allow tenants to check that their landlord and property are properly registered.
For responsible landlords already meeting their obligations, much of the information required should already be familiar.
When Will Landlords Need to Register?
Registration will be introduced gradually rather than requiring every landlord in England to register at once.
The first area will be the West Midlands from 15 December 2026, with landlords given three months to complete their registration.
Other regions will then follow throughout 2027, with all landlords actively letting properties required to have registered by 14 November 2027.
The deadline will be based on where a rental property is located, rather than where the landlord lives. This is particularly relevant to landlords with properties across different areas, as different properties within the same portfolio could fall into different registration periods.
What Information Will Landlords Need to Provide?
Although further guidance for landlords and letting agents is still expected, the register is intended to bring together information that landlords should already hold as part of managing a compliant rental property. This is expected to include details such as:
- The property and its ownership
- Landlord and managing agent details
- Tenancy and rental information
- The number of occupants
- Any HMO, selective or additional licensing requirements
- Gas Safety information
- Electrical Safety information
- Energy Performance Certificate details
An annual registration fee of £65 per property is currently expected, with registration renewed annually.
Can a Letting Agent Register on Behalf of a Landlord?
This is one area where the process will be slightly different from many of the compliance requirements already managed for landlords.
The Government has indicated that the landlord will remain responsible for starting and completing their registration. Where a property is professionally managed, agents will however be able to assist with certain property and compliance information.
Further guidance specifically for letting agents and property managers is expected before the service goes live. We will update our landlords once we have greater clarity around exactly how we can support them through the process.
Do Landlords Need to Do Anything Now?
Not immediately.
The regional rollout has deliberately been introduced over a twelve month period, so landlords do not need to rush to register before their area opens.
What is sensible now is to make sure the information held for a property is correct and that compliance documentation is up to date. For our Managed and Part Managed landlords, much of this information already forms part of the day to day management and compliance of a property.
As the registration dates approach, we will provide further information on what landlords need to do and, importantly, how we can help them through the process.
What Happens in the Future?
The first phase applies to properties that are already let, or which become occupied during the rollout period.
The Government has confirmed that a later phase will go further. Eventually, landlords will need to register properties before they are marketed for rent, and landlords and letting agents will be required to include registration details within property advertising.
This means the database will ultimately become another important part of the letting and compliance process.
Another Change for Rent Increases
Alongside the database announcement, the Government has also confirmed plans to change the way challenges to rent increases are dealt with.
At present, where a tenant challenges a proposed rent increase, the matter is determined by the First tier Tribunal.
The Government now intends for HMRC’s Valuation Office Agency to make the initial decision on rent increase challenges, with the aim of providing quicker decisions and reducing pressure on the tribunal system.
This change requires further legislation and has not taken effect yet, so the existing First tier Tribunal process remains in place for the time being.
Our View
The PRS Database represents another change for landlords, but having a confirmed timetable is helpful.
For landlords already maintaining their properties, keeping compliance documentation up to date and working with a professional managing agent, the introduction of the register should largely be about bringing information already held together in one place.
There is also plenty of time to prepare.
We will continue to monitor the Government guidance as it develops and will contact our landlords ahead of the relevant registration periods with further information about what they need to do and how Howkins & Harrison can assist.
For now, there is no need to take any immediate action.
If you are a landlord and would like advice on preparing for the PRS Database or any other aspect of the Renters Rights reforms, get in touch with the Howkins & Harrison lettings team today.
