The Private Rented Sector Database: a landlord guide

Last checked 16 Oct 2026. Rules change: check gov.uk before you act.

Short answer. The Private Rented Sector Database, called the Register your rental property service, opens on 15 December 2026 in the West Midlands and rolls out across England region by region. Each region has a three-month window, and every landlord actively letting must be registered by 14 November 2027. The fee is £65 per property per year. Landlords must give details of themselves, each property, the tenancy and rent, plus gas safety, electrical safety and EPC information and any energy exemption. Councils can fine up to £7,000 for breaches, up to £40,000 for offences, and courts cannot make most possession orders while a landlord is in breach. The regulations were laid in draft in September 2026, so check gov.uk for final detail.

From 15 December 2026 private landlords in England must register themselves and their let properties on a new national database. It is created by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. The government calls the service Register your rental property. This guide covers the dates, the fee, what to have ready and what happens if you do not register.

PlutoHome is not the government and does not register properties for you. We help you get your information ready and keep it current.

Dates by region

Registration opens region by region on the 15th of each month. Each region then has three months. The deadline depends on where the property is, not where you live.

Region	Opens	Deadline
West Midlands	15 December 2026	14 March 2027
East of England	15 January 2027	14 April 2027
East Midlands	15 February 2027	14 May 2027
South East	15 March 2027	14 June 2027
Yorkshire and the Humber	15 April 2027	14 July 2027
North West	15 May 2027	14 August 2027
North East	15 June 2027	14 September 2027
London	15 July 2027	14 October 2027
South West	15 August 2027	14 November 2027

If you own in several regions you can register every property from 15 December 2026. The fee is pro-rated for early registration. Councils can start enforcement once a region's window has closed.

Who must register

For now the duty covers landlords with properties that are let, or that become let, during the rollout. Empty properties do not need registering yet. Future rules will require unoccupied properties to be registered before they are marketed, and adverts will need registration numbers. Supported exempt accommodation is excluded.

The landlord must start the registration. A letting agent can upload some information for you, but the duty stays with you. You need a GOV.UK One Login to use the service.

The fee

The fee is £65 per property per year, renewed annually. It is per property, not per landlord.

Properties	Annual fee
5	£325
10	£650
25	£1,625
50	£3,250

The government says the fee funds the service and council enforcement. It is set by draft regulations that still needed Parliamentary approval when we checked.

What you need ready

The government has published the information it will ask for. Gather it before your window opens.

About you

Name, date of birth, residential address, phone and email.
For a company or other organisation: name, legal entity type, address (not a PO Box), a nominated contact, and Companies House or charity number. Without a Companies House number you give details of directors, partners, trustees or members.
If someone else makes the entry, such as an attorney or deputy, their capacity and evidence of authority.

About each property

Address, ownership type, dwelling type and number of bedrooms.
Whether it is currently let.
Any freeholder, superior landlord or property manager.
Number of occupants and households.
HMO, additional or selective licence details.
Whether it is furnished, part furnished or unfurnished.
Rent amount, how often it is paid and whether utilities are included.

Safety and energy

Gas safety record, if there is a gas supply. See gas safety.
EICR or electrical certificate, with its expiry date. See EICRs.
EPC where required. See EPC C by 2030.
Details of any MEES exemption.

Some commentators also mention deposit protection records. The government list we checked did not include them, but have your deposit certificates ready anyway.

Penalties and possession

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives councils several tools:

A financial penalty of up to £7,000 for breaching the database requirements (section 91).
For an offence under section 92, a penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution.
Rent repayment orders, which let tenants reclaim rent.

There is also a practical sanction. Under section 90, a court may not make a possession order while the landlord is in breach of the relevant registration duty for that property. The exceptions are Ground 7A and Ground 14, which cover anti-social behaviour. Commentators say it is unclear whether a missing document, rather than a missing entry, would also block possession. Keep your entry complete and current to avoid the question.

Keeping your entry current

Registration is not a one-off. You renew each year and pay again. Your certificates also expire on their own cycles: gas every 12 months, electrical at least every 5 years, and EPCs every 10 years. An entry showing an expired certificate is a red flag for a council. Set reminders for each date across the portfolio. Tenants will also be able to check whether a landlord is registered once the public part of the service is live.

Steps to take now

Set up a GOV.UK One Login for yourself and anyone acting for you.
List every let property by region and note its deadline.
Collect the latest gas record, EICR and EPC for each property.
Renew anything expired or close to expiry before you register.
Confirm licence numbers with your council if a property needs a licence.
Agree with your agent who uploads what.
Budget for the fee at £65 per property.

Questions

When does the landlord database open?

15 December 2026, starting with the West Midlands. Other regions follow monthly until the South West opens on 15 August 2027. Everyone actively letting must be registered by 14 November 2027.

How much does registration cost?

£65 per property per year, renewed annually. It is pro-rated during the rollout and for early registration.

Is the fee per landlord or per property?

Per property. A landlord with 10 properties pays £650 a year.

Can my letting agent register for me?

The landlord must start the registration. Agents can upload certain information on your behalf, and the government has promised separate agent guidance.

What happens if I do not register?

Councils can impose a penalty of up to £7,000, or up to £40,000 for an offence, and courts cannot make most possession orders while you are in breach. Rent repayment orders may also apply.

Do I need to register an empty property?

Not yet. The first phase covers properties that are let or become let during the rollout. Future legislation will require registration before an empty property is marketed.

Which region am I in?

The region is set by the property address, not your home address. If you are unsure, check gov.uk once the service opens.