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New Landlord Database to Launch in December – What Landlords Need to Know
The Government has confirmed that its new national landlord registration service will begin rolling out across England from 15th December 2026, as part of the next phase of the Renters’ Rights Act.
Registration will be a legal requirement for private landlords, with the system being introduced region by region over a 12-month period.
The rollout will begin in the West Midlands on 15th December 2026. Once registration opens in a particular region, landlords will have a three-month window to register.
All landlords who are actively letting property in England will need to be registered by 14th November 2027.
An annual registration fee of £65 will apply for each property registered.
Regional Rollout Timetable
Once registration opens in a particular region, landlords will have a three-month window to register. The timetable for registration is as follows:
Do I need to register my rental property?
The new requirements will initially apply to landlords with properties that are already let, as well as properties that become occupied during the rollout period.
This means that landlords with existing tenancies will need to register once the service becomes available in their area.
Initially, an empty property being advertised for rent will not need to be registered. However, the Government has confirmed that this will change at a later stage.
Once the public-facing element of the database is introduced, landlords will need to register a property before advertising it to let, and both landlords and letting agents will be required to include the property’s registration number in advertisements.
Importantly, landlords will need to complete the registration themselves. A letting agent will not be able to register a landlord or property on their behalf.
What happens if I don’t register?
Registration will be a legal requirement rather than an optional scheme.
Landlords who fail to comply with the requirements could face enforcement action and financial penalties.
It will therefore be important to make sure you know when registration opens in the area where your rental property is located and complete the process within the relevant three-month window.
What information will landlords need to provide?
The registration process is expected to be completed through a new Government online service, with landlords providing information about themselves and each of their rental properties.
Full details of the information required are still being confirmed, but landlords should expect to provide information such as:
* The rental property’s full address
* Details of the landlord and, where applicable, any joint landlords
* The type of property
* The type of ownership (leasehold , freehold etc)
* The number of households and residents
* Details of any relevant property licensing
* Details of any relevant certificates
Further information about exactly what landlords will need to provide is expected as the Government publishes the detailed registration requirements.
When do I need to register?
You do not need to register immediately.
The database is being introduced gradually across England, starting with the West Midlands on 15th December 2026.
When registration opens for your area, you will have three months to comply.
The Government has confirmed that all landlords actively letting property should be registered by 14th November 2027.
What should landlords do now?
For the moment, landlords do not need to take any immediate action. However, it is a good idea to make sure your property and compliance records are up to date and easily accessible.
In particular, check that you have current copies of your Gas Safety Certificate, Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), together with accurate details about your property and tenancy.
If we manage your property, we will let you know when the new registration requirements apply to your area and what you need to do.