England’s New “Register Your Rental Property” Service: What London Landlords Need to Know

A major new requirement for private landlords is coming into effect as part of the next phase of the Renters’ Rights Act.

From 15 December 2026, the Government will begin rolling out its new “Register your rental property” service, creating a national database of private landlords and rental properties across England. The rollout will take place region by region, with London scheduled to begin on 15 July 2027.

For London landlords, there is still time to prepare – but understanding what will be required now can help avoid unnecessary stress and potential penalties later.

What is the “Register your rental property” service?

Previously referred to as the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, the new service is designed to create a central record of private landlords and the properties they rent out.

The Government says the database will improve transparency for renters, help responsible landlords demonstrate that they are meeting their obligations and give councils better access to information when carrying out housing enforcement.

The service is being introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and forms part of the second phase of reforms following the major tenancy changes introduced in May 2026.

For landlords in London, this means another important compliance requirement to add to an already increasingly regulated private rented sector.

When will London landlords need to register?

Although the registration service will open nationally on 15 December 2026, landlords will be brought into the requirement according to a regional timetable.

London’s registration period will begin on:

15 July 2027

London landlords will then have until:

14 October 2027 to register their properties.

The Government has confirmed that landlords have a three-month period to register once their region is called forward.

Importantly, landlords do not have to wait until their regional deadline. Registration will be available from 15 December 2026, meaning London landlords can choose to register earlier if they wish.

How much will registration cost?

Landlords will need to pay £65 per property, per year.

This is a separate annual registration requirement, meaning landlords with larger portfolios will need to budget accordingly.

For example:

• 1 property = £65 per year
• 5 properties = £325 per year
• 10 properties = £650 per year
• 20 properties = £1,300 per year

The registration fee applies to each property rather than being one single fee covering an entire portfolio.

There is also a distinction between creating a landlord entry and registering individual properties. Each property requires its own dwelling entry and annual fee.

Who needs to register?

The requirement applies to private landlords in England with properties let under assured or regulated tenancies. You will need to do this yourself.

This includes existing properties as well as properties that become occupied during the rollout period.

It is important to remember that the database is separate from local property licensing schemes.

So, for example, if a London property already requires a selective, additional or mandatory HMO licence, having that licence does not remove the requirement to register the property on the new national database.

What information will London landlords need to provide?

Landlords will need to provide information about themselves and each property they register.

This includes information such as:

• Landlord name and contact details
• Property address
• Property type
• Number of bedrooms
• Whether the property is currently let
• Ownership information
• Rent amount and payment frequency
• Number of people living at the property
• Whether the property is an HMO
• Relevant licensing information
• Whether the property is furnished, part furnished or unfurnished
• Gas safety information, where applicable
• Electrical safety information
• EPC information
• Relevant MEES exemption information, where applicable

This is particularly important for landlords with multiple properties because the registration process will require information to be accurate at property level.

What does this mean for London landlords?

For landlords in London, the new database is another reason to make sure property records are properly organised well before July 2027.

It will no longer be enough simply to know that a certificate exists somewhere in an email inbox or that a property was previously compliant.

Landlords will need to have reliable information about their properties and keep their database records up to date.

For example, if information such as rent, occupiers or relevant safety certification changes, the database record may need to be updated. The NRLA guidance currently states that changes to required information should generally be updated within 28 days.

This makes good record-keeping increasingly important.

What about letting agents and property managers?

There is an important point for landlords who use a letting agent or property management company.

The landlord remains responsible for completing the registration. Current guidance states that agents cannot register on behalf of the landlord, although they may be able to assist by providing relevant information.

For landlords using professional property management, this means it will be important to establish who is responsible for gathering and checking the information required for registration.

A well-organised property management system can make this significantly easier by keeping property, tenancy and compliance information together rather than spread across different systems.

Will landlords have to put their registration number on advertisements?

There is an important distinction here because the rules are being introduced in stages.

Initially, the registration requirement applies to properties that are let or become occupied during the regional rollout. Empty properties do not yet have to be registered simply because they are being marketed.

However, the Government has confirmed that under future legislation, landlords will need to register unoccupied properties before marketing them for let, and registration numbers will need to appear on property advertisements.

The NRLA also confirms that the future advertising requirements will involve including both the Landlord Registration Number and Property Registration Number in advertisements. The date for this part of the legislation has not yet been confirmed.

This is particularly relevant to London agents and landlords who regularly advertise properties, as it could eventually become another mandatory piece of information within the property marketing process.

What happens if a landlord doesn’t register?

This is not simply an optional database.

Registration will be a legal requirement, and failure to comply can have serious consequences.

The NRLA states that penalties can include:

• Civil penalties of up to £7,000 for certain database offences
• Fines of up to £40,000 in more serious circumstances
• Potential rent repayment orders
• Restrictions on a landlord’s ability to obtain possession of a property

The legislation also gives local authorities powers to take enforcement action against landlords who fail to comply.

For London landlords, this is particularly relevant because councils will have access to the database for housing-related functions, giving local authorities another source of information when monitoring the private rented sector. The Greater London Authority will also have access to database information for its housing-related functions.

How should London landlords prepare?

Although the London deadline is not until October 2027, preparation can start well before then.

1. Review your property portfolio

Make sure you have an accurate list of every property you own and identify which properties are currently let under an assured or regulated tenancy.

2. Check your compliance records

Review your:

• Gas Safety Certificates
• EICRs
• EPCs
• Licensing information
• Relevant MEES exemptions

Make sure you know when each document expires and where the latest version is stored.

3. Check your tenancy information

Make sure your records accurately reflect:

• Current rent
• Payment frequency
• Occupiers
• Property type
• Furnishing status
• HMO status
• Landlord and ownership information

4. Don’t leave registration until the last minute

London landlords will have a three-month registration window from 15 July to 14 October 2027.

For landlords with one property, registration may be relatively straightforward. For landlords with a larger portfolio, however, gathering and checking the required information across multiple properties could take considerably longer.

5. Keep your records organised

The new database is another example of why accurate property records are becoming increasingly important.

For professional landlords and property businesses, having one reliable source of information for properties, tenants, contracts, compliance and financial information can make it much easier to respond to new regulatory requirements.

What does this mean for the London rental market?

The new registration service represents another significant step towards a more transparent and closely monitored private rented sector.

For tenants, the Government’s intention is to provide greater confidence that landlords are genuine and complying with their obligations. For councils, the database should provide better information to support enforcement activity. For responsible landlords, it provides an opportunity to demonstrate that their properties are properly managed and compliant.

For London landlords in particular, the message is simple: don’t wait until July 2027 to start getting your records in order.

The registration deadline may still be months away, but the information needed to register should already be part of a well-managed property portfolio.

Preparing for the next stage of renting

The “Register your rental property” service is just one part of the wider changes being introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act.

With new tenancy rules already in place, further regulation coming into force and greater enforcement powers for councils, landlords need to have a clear overview of their properties and compliance responsibilities.

For London landlords, preparing early can help make the transition smoother, reduce the risk of missed information and ensure that each property is ready when the registration window opens.

The key date to remember is 15 July 2027 – when London’s registration period begins – with all London properties requiring registration by 14 October 2027 under the current timetable.