A new national registration system for private landlords is being introduced in England as part of the Renters’ Rights Act.
The new Private Rented Sector Database is designed to give landlords a straightforward way to register their properties while giving councils better information about the private rented sector. For landlords, registration will become a legal requirement. It will also become increasingly important when advertising a property for rent, with landlords and letting agents eventually required to include registration information in property adverts.
So, when do you need to register, how much will it cost and what information will you need to provide?
What is the new national landlord register?
The government is introducing a new Private Rented Sector Database as part of the Renters’ Rights Act. Although often referred to as a national landlord register, the new system applies to private landlords in England.
The database will bring together information about landlords and the properties they rent out. It is intended to make it easier for councils to understand the private rented sector in their area and take action where landlords are not meeting their legal obligations. It will also give renters greater transparency about the homes they are considering renting.
The government says one of the main purposes of the database is to help councils identify poor-quality and non-compliant properties and focus enforcement activity where it is needed. This doesn’t mean that every private landlord is being treated as a rogue landlord. The aim is to create a consistent system covering the private rented sector while making it easier to identify those who are not following the rules.
Why is the government introducing a landlord register?
There are millions of privately rented homes across England, with properties owned and managed by landlords ranging from people with a single rental property to large-scale professional landlords. However, information about the private rented sector is not held in one consistent national system. This can make it more difficult for local authorities to identify landlords and properties, particularly where there are concerns about property standards or legal compliance.
The new database is intended to improve that. By bringing landlord, property and safety information together, councils should have better information to help them identify properties that may require investigation. For renters, the aim is to provide greater transparency and confidence when choosing a home.
The database is therefore part of the government’s wider changes to the private rented sector, which are being introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act.
When do I need to register on the national landlord register?
The new registration service is due to launch on 15 December 2026, beginning with the West Midlands. The rollout will then move across the regions of England during 2027.
Landlords will have a three-month period to register once their area is called forward.
The current timetable is:
| Region | Registration deadline |
|---|---|
| West Midlands | 14 March 2027 |
| East of England | 14 April 2027 |
| East Midlands | 14 May 2027 |
| South East | 14 June 2027 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 14 July 2027 |
| North West | 14 August 2027 |
| North East | 14 September 2027 |
| London | 14 October 2027 |
| South West | 14 November 2027 |
This means landlords don’t all need to register on the same day. Instead, the system will be introduced region by region, with landlords given a registration window when their area is included.
If you are a landlord in the North West, for example, the current deadline is 14 August 2027.
The government has said that all landlords actively letting property will need to have registered by 14 November 2027.
How do I register on the national landlord register?
Registration will be completed online through the government’s new registration service. The service is being introduced from December 2026, so landlords should check the latest government guidance when registration opens for their region.
You should expect to provide information about yourself, your property and your rental arrangements. The government has said the database is expected to include information such as landlord contact details and property information, including the address, property type, number of bedrooms and details about occupancy. Safety information will also form part of the database, including information relating to gas, electrical and energy performance requirements.
If you own more than one rental property, you should expect to provide information for each property that falls within the registration requirements.
How much does landlord registration cost?
The registration service will be subject to a fee. The current announced cost is £65 per property per year, although landlords should check the official government service for the latest information before registering.
This means that a landlord with several rental properties will need to budget for registration across their portfolio rather than paying one flat fee for all properties. There may also be consequences for landlords who fail to register or provide the required information.
What information will I need to register?
Landlords will need to provide information about themselves and their rental properties.
This is expected to include:
- Landlord contact details
- Property address
- Property type
- Number of bedrooms
- Information about the people or households occupying the property
- Whether the property is occupied
- Whether the property is furnished
- Gas safety information
- Electrical safety information
- Energy Performance Certificate information
- Other information required by the registration service
The exact information and requirements may develop as the system is introduced, so landlords should always check the latest government guidance. If you use a letting agent or property manager, it may also be worth discussing the new requirements with them so you understand what information they can help provide on your behalf.
Will landlords receive a registration number?
Yes. The database legislation provides for unique identifiers to be allocated to landlord and property entries. These identifiers will become important when properties are advertised for rent. The legislation provides that a property cannot be marketed for a new residential tenancy unless there is an active landlord entry and an active dwelling entry on the database.
Written property advertisements will also need to include the relevant unique identifiers once the advertising requirements come into force. This means landlord registration is likely to become an increasingly important part of the process of marketing a private rental property.
What happens if I don’t register my rental property?
Registration isn’t optional for landlords who fall within the requirements. Landlords who fail to register can face enforcement action from their local authority. There can also be financial penalties for failing to meet the database requirements.
The government has stated that landlords who let or advertise a property without the required registration can face a civil penalty of up to £7,000. Repeated breaches or more serious offences can result in significantly higher penalties. There are also wider consequences. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, failing to maintain the required active registration can affect a landlord’s ability to obtain certain possession orders.
For landlords, therefore, registration shouldn’t simply be viewed as another piece of administration. It will form part of the requirements for legally letting and marketing private rented property.
Does the landlord register apply to housing associations and councils?
The new Private Rented Sector Database is aimed at the private rented sector. Social landlords, such as housing associations and local authorities, are treated differently under the legislation. This is important because MovingSoon has traditionally worked with registered providers, councils and other housing organisations, as well as letting agents.
Our platform has been helping housing providers advertise available homes and connect with people looking for their next property for well over a decade. The new landlord registration requirements create an opportunity to extend that approach to private landlords who meet the relevant requirements.
What does the new landlord register mean for letting and estate agents?
The new registration requirements will create another consideration for letting agents managing and marketing properties on behalf of landlords. Agents will need to understand the new requirements and, where applicable, make sure the relevant registration information is included when properties are marketed.
MovingSoon already works with estate and letting agents, as well as housing providers, and we’re interested in hearing how the changes may affect the way agents advertise rental properties. The introduction of the database could also make it easier to establish whether a private landlord has completed the required registration before their property is advertised.
For agents managing properties on behalf of landlords, it will be important to understand what information they need from their landlord clients and what they can do to assist with the registration process.
Why could landlord registration be useful for renters?
The new database isn’t just about regulation. For renters, greater transparency can be useful when choosing where to live.
The database is intended to give renters more information about landlords and properties, while helping councils identify landlords and properties where there may be concerns about compliance or property standards.
Of course, registration doesn’t mean that a property is automatically perfect or that a landlord will never have a problem with a tenant. It is one part of a wider framework designed to improve standards, accountability and transparency across the private rented sector.
What should private landlords do now?
If you are a private landlord in England, there is no need to panic. The registration service is being introduced gradually, so your deadline will depend on where your property is located. However, it makes sense to start getting your information together now.
Check that you have up-to-date details for your properties and that your relevant safety and energy documentation is available. If you use a letting agent or property manager, speak to them about how the new registration requirements will affect the way your properties are managed and advertised. You should also keep an eye on the latest government guidance as your regional registration date approaches.
Once you have completed the registration process, keep your landlord and property registration information somewhere accessible. You may need it when dealing with agents, property advertising platforms or other organisations involved in letting your property.
Could private landlords advertise their properties on MovingSoon?
We’re exploring the opportunity to open MovingSoon to private landlords who have completed the required registration. Our experience has traditionally been working with housing providers, councils and estate and letting agents, helping them connect available homes with people actively searching for somewhere to live.
The new registration requirements provide a potential framework for extending this to private landlords. If you are a private landlord with a registered rental property and you’re looking for another way to reach prospective tenants, we’d be interested in hearing from you.
We’re also continuing to work with estate and letting agents, so if you’re an agent looking to advertise rental or sales properties, we’d be happy to hear from you too. We’re interested in seeing where the demand is and how MovingSoon can help more people find the right home.
Finding new tenants and buyers for homes shouldn’t be complicated.
