If you’re a private landlord in England, there’s another important change to put on your radar.
The Government is introducing a new registration service called Register your rental property, as part of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Wales already has a similar scheme called Rent Smart Wales.
It’s designed to give landlords, tenants and local councils better access to information about privately rented homes. For landlords, that means a new registration requirement, an annual fee and some preparation before your deadline arrives.
The good news? You have time to get organised. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Private Rented Sector Database?
The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database is being introduced to improve transparency and accountability in England’s private rented sector.
The new service will create a central record of landlords and their rental properties. Councils will be able to use the information to help identify landlords who are not meeting their legal obligations, while tenants will eventually be able to check relevant information about properties and landlords.
For responsible landlords, it should also provide a way to demonstrate that they are taking their responsibilities seriously.
The service is being introduced in phases, with registration opening region by region from December 2026.
You can find the latest information in the Government’s official guidance for landlords.
When do landlords need to register?
Registration begins on 15th December 2026, starting in the West Midlands. Other regions will follow throughout 2027.
When registration opens for your region, you will have a three-month window to complete the process. The deadline depends on where your rental property is located, not where you live.
The published timetable is:
-
West Midlands: 14th March 2027
-
East of England: 14th April 2027
-
East Midlands: 14th May 2027
-
South East: 14th June 2027
-
Yorkshire and Humber: 14th July 2027
-
North West: 14th August 2027
-
North East: 14th September 2027
-
London: 14th October 2027
-
South West: 14th November 2027
If you have properties in different regions, you will need to account for the relevant deadlines for each one. You can register eligible properties earlier once the service opens, if that suits you better.
The Government’s stated deadline for landlords actively letting properties across England is 14th November 2027.
Who needs to register?
The requirement applies to landlords of assured or regulated tenancies in England, subject to the relevant exemptions. Supported exempt accommodation, as defined by the legislation, is excluded.
If you own a buy-to-let property that you rent to tenants under an assured tenancy, you should expect to be affected.
The location of the property matters. A landlord who lives in Wales but lets a property in England will need to follow the English registration requirements. The database is part of the reforms applying to England, so it should not be confused with existing registration or licensing arrangements in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
If you are unsure whether a particular property or tenancy is covered, check the official guidance before making assumptions.
How much will registration cost?
The published annual fee is £65 per property. You will need to pay the fee for each property you register, and registrations will need to be renewed annually.
During the phased rollout, fees will be adjusted to account for the registration period, so landlords registering earlier will not pay more simply because they have registered first.
For example, if you own three eligible properties, you should budget for three property registrations rather than assuming one payment covers your entire portfolio.
It is worth factoring this into your property expenses and keeping a record of the renewal dates. It is one more cost to plan for, but knowing about it now is better than discovering it when the deadline is approaching.
What information will you need?
The registration process will require information about you as a landlord and about each property.
You should be prepared to provide details such as:
-
Your contact details and residential address.
-
The property’s full address, number of bedrooms and number of residents.
-
The rent you receive for the property.
-
Relevant gas safety, electrical safety and energy performance certificates.
-
Other information required by the registration service for your circumstances.
Individual landlords and organisations will be asked for different information. Companies and other organisational landlords may need to provide details about their legal entity and the person responsible for making the registration.
You will need a GOV.UK One Login to use the online service. Offline registration routes are also planned for landlords who need them.
If you use a letting agent or property manager, they may be able to help provide certain information. However, the landlord remains responsible for ensuring the required registration is completed.
What should you do now?
If you want to get ahead of the game, you do not need to wait until registration opens to prepare.
Start by creating a list of your rental properties and checking that the addresses and tenancy details are correct. Review your gas safety records, electrical safety reports and EPCs, and make sure you can locate the relevant documents quickly.
Check that your contact details are up to date, too. If you own several properties, organising everything in one place will make the process considerably easier.
Keep an eye on official announcements as the rollout progresses. The Government also plans to introduce further requirements for unoccupied properties before they are marketed for rent, alongside the later public-facing elements of the database. Those requirements will be introduced separately, so check the latest guidance before relying on the current rules.
How can Reoli help?
Preparing for registration is a good reminder of why organised property records matter.
Reoli is being developed to help self-managing landlords keep property details, tenancy information, rent records, expenses and important documents organised in one place.
It will not register properties on your behalf or guarantee that you meet every legal requirement. However, having your information organised can make it easier to find the details you need when a new requirement comes along.
That said, we’re keeping a close eye on developments and strive to make the process as easy as possible for you.
The bottom line
The new Register your rental property service is an important part of the next phase of rental reform in England.
Registration starts in December 2026, with regional deadlines running through to November 2027. The best approach is to identify which properties are affected, budget for the annual fee and get your paperwork in order well before your deadline.
A little preparation now can save a lot of last-minute scrambling later. And if there is one thing most landlords could do with less of, it is unnecessary paperwork stress.