The Government has confirmed how the new national Private Rented Sector (PRS) database will be introduced across England, including the registration timetable, annual cost and information landlords will need to provide.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduced the requirement for landlords to register themselves and their properties on a database. The Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026, published on 9 September 2026, set out when landlords will need to register and the information they will be required to provide.

The new service, known as the Register Your Rental Property Service, will open on 15 December 2026. Registration will then become compulsory on a regional basis, beginning with the West Midlands.

Registration timetable and cost

Landlords will pay £65 per property each year to remain registered. Once the registration requirement takes effect in a region, landlords will have three months to complete the process before local authorities can begin enforcement action.

The regional timetable is:

  • West Midlands from 15 December 2026, with a deadline of 14 March 2027
  • East of England from 15 January 2027, with a deadline of 14 April 2027
  • East Midlands from 15 February 2027, with a deadline of 14 May 2027
  • South East from 15 March 2027, with a deadline of 14 June 2027
  • Yorkshire and Humber from 15 April 2027, with a deadline of 14 July 2027
  • North West from 15 May 2027, with a deadline of 14 August 2027
  • North East from 15 June 2027, with a deadline of 14 September 2027
  • London from 15 July 2027, with a deadline of 14 October 2027
  • South West from 15 August 2027, with a deadline of 14 November 2027.

Deadlines are determined by the location of the rental property rather than where the landlord lives. Landlords with properties in several regions can also choose to register them earlier rather than waiting for each regional deadline.

Initially, registration applies to properties that are already let or become occupied during the rollout. The supplied regulations information states that properties let under assured or regulated tenancies need to be registered.

Unoccupied properties will not initially need to be registered, although future legislation is expected to require registration before an unoccupied property can be marketed for letting.

What landlords will need to provide

The registration process will require individual landlords and company landlords to provide their address, telephone number and email address.

Property information will include details such as the:

  • Address of property
  • Type of dwelling (flat, terraced, semi-detached, etc)
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Number of residents
  • The amount of rent, whether it includes bills, and how often it needs to be paid
  • Whether the property needs a selective, additional or mandatory HMO licence and whether it has one
  • Gas safety, Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and EPC certificate

Landlords using a letting agent will still have to start the registration process themselves. Agents and property managers may be able to upload certain information, but the landlord remains responsible for ensuring the registration is completed and the information provided is accurate.

Registration will take place through a Government website or form, with further details about the registration portal expected closer to the service opening on 15 December 2026.

Failure to meet the database requirements can lead to significant consequences. The information supplied states that penalties can include fines of up to £40,000, rent repayment orders or landlords being prevented from gaining possession of a property.

In future, tenants are expected to be able to use the service to check whether a landlord complies with key legal requirements. The Government has said the information made publicly available will seek to balance landlords’ privacy with tenants’ ability to make informed rental choices. Registration numbers will also ultimately need to be included in property advertisements.