Landlords: new requirement to register property in England
Sign-up to new property database needed from December 2026.
This mandatory requirement is being rolled out, region by region, under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Broadly, it means landlords of property let under an assured or regulated tenancy must register property on a new national database, and provide extensive details on doing so. The database is called the ‘Register your rental property’ service (previously the Private Rented Sector Database).
The first registrations are required for property in the West Midlands, from 15 December 2026. Registration is then extended to all other regions over the 12 months to 14 November 2027. As registration rolls out, landlords with properties in each region have a specific three-month period to sign up. Details of regions and deadlines can be found on the ‘Get ready: “Register your rental property” service’ page on GOV.UK. Landlords can sign up before their regional deadline if they choose. Registration costs £65 per property and must be renewed each year. There are fines for non-compliance.
At this stage, only landlords with properties under let, or which become occupied during rollout of the scheme must register. But in future it is expected that landlords will have to register unoccupied properties before marketing them for let.
Registration does not apply to supported exempt accommodation as defined by law. Different rules apply generally elsewhere in the UK.
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