New Landlord Database 2026: A Complete Guide for Landlords in England
The Government's new Register Your Rental Property service opens on 15 December 2026. Landlords in England will need to register their relevant rental properties, with deadlines varying by region.
Here's what you need to know, what it could cost and how to prepare.
Landlord database: Key facts at a glance
Registration opens: 15 December 2026.
Who needs to register? Landlords with properties covered by the relevant assured or regulated tenancy rules in England.
Cost: £65 per property, per year, with pro-rata arrangements during the rollout.
Deadline: Depends on the location of each rental property, with regional deadlines running from March to November 2027.
Can your letting agent register for you? No. You remain responsible for registration, although your agent or property manager may be able to help provide certain information.
What should you do now? Check your regional deadline and organise your property, tenancy and relevant safety records.
Need the full details? Our guide below explains the registration process, regional deadlines, required information, potential penalties and the steps you can take to prepare.
This guide relates to rental properties in England. Requirements and exceptions depend on the individual circumstances of the property and tenancy.
Read the Full Guide
Want to know more? Explore the full guide below, or use the contents to jump straight to the sections most relevant to you.
What is the new landlord database?
The Register Your Rental Property service is a new registration system introduced under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. It is intended to give local authorities better information about landlords and rental properties, helping them identify properties and landlords and enforce housing standards.
Landlords who fall within the rules will need to create a landlord entry and a separate property entry for each relevant rental property. The database is separate from existing property licensing schemes, so having an HMO, selective or additional licence does not remove the registration requirement.
Some information is also expected to become available to tenants through a public-facing part of the database, although access will be limited to the information designated for public viewing.
Which landlords need to register?
The requirement applies to landlords in England who let properties under the relevant assured or regulated tenancies covered by the legislation.
You should prepare if you:
Own a rental property in England.
Use a letting agent or property management company.
Manage your own rental property.
Own multiple rental properties.
Already hold a relevant property licence.
Have existing tenancies as well as new tenancies created during the rollout.
There are specific exceptions, so not every rental arrangement will necessarily be covered. The initial rules also distinguish between occupied properties and vacant properties. Vacant properties will need to be registered when they become occupied under a covered tenancy; future legislation is expected to introduce registration before marketing a property for let.
If you are unsure whether your property or tenancy is covered, check the official guidance before registering.
Important: These requirements relate to England. Landlords with properties elsewhere in the UK should check the rules that apply in that nation.
When do landlords need to register?
Registration opens on 15 December 2026, but the deadline for completing registration depends on the region where each property is located.
The published timetable is:
Region | Registration deadline |
West Midlands | 14 March 2027 |
East of England | 14 April 2027 |
East Midlands | 14 May 2027 |
South East | 14 June 2027 |
Yorkshire and Humber | 14 July 2027 |
North West | 14 August 2027 |
North East | 14 September 2027 |
London | 14 October 2027 |
South West | 14 November 2027 |
You can register from 15 December 2026 even if your region's deadline is later.
If you own properties in more than one region, check the relevant deadline for each property. The published timetable provides a three-month registration window for each region.
How much does registration cost?
The standard registration fee is £65 per property per year. If you own multiple rental properties, you will need to pay the fee for each property you register. Pro-rata arrangements may apply in certain circumstances during the initial rollout.
Landlords should factor this annual cost into their property budgets alongside existing maintenance, insurance and compliance expenses.
What information will you need?
The registration process requires information about the landlord, the property, the tenancy and relevant safety documentation.
Preparing this information in advance should make registration easier, especially if you own several properties.
Landlord details
Depending on how the property is owned, you may need information such as your name, contact details, address and relevant ownership or company information.
For landlords using a company structure, additional company details may be required.
Property details
You should be ready to provide information including:
The full property address.
Ownership type.
The type of dwelling and number of bedrooms.
Whether the property is currently occupied.
Relevant freeholder, superior landlord or property manager details.
Tenancy and rental information
This may include:
The rent charged and how frequently it is paid.
Whether rent includes bills.
The number of occupants and households.
Whether the property is furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished.
Relevant HMO, selective or additional licensing information.
Safety and compliance information
Depending on the property, you may need details of:
The latest gas safety record, where applicable.
A valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).
The property's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Relevant minimum energy efficiency standards exemption information, where applicable.
The exact information required depends on your circumstances. Check the published requirements for your property rather than assuming every document applies to every landlord.
The current guidance allows a property entry to be created before all the required property information is supplied, but the outstanding information must be completed within 28 days. Relevant information must also be kept up to date.
Can a letting agent or property manager register for you?
No. The landlord must initiate and complete their own registration, unless a specific legal exception applies.
A letting agent or property manager may help by supplying certain information, including tenancy details, safety certificate information and relevant licensing details. However, landlords should not assume their agent can take over the whole registration process.
If you already use a property management company, ask how they intend to help you prepare the information needed for registration.
If you manage your own rental property, you can still seek practical support and advice to understand the requirements and organise your paperwork.
What happens if you fail to register?
Registration is a legal requirement where the rules apply. Failing to comply can have serious consequences.
The published guidance identifies potential civil penalties, including fines of up to £7,000 for certain breaches and up to £40,000 for multiple or continued breaches. Rent repayment orders and restrictions on a landlord's ability to regain possession may also apply in relevant circumstances.
The consequences depend on the nature of the breach and the applicable legal provisions.
Registration is not simply a one-off task. Landlords must also keep relevant information accurate and update the database when required information changes. The published guidance provides a 28-day period for updating relevant changes.
Good record keeping and clear communication with your property manager can help you keep track of these responsibilities.
How can landlords prepare now?
There is no need to wait until the deadline is approaching to get organised.
1. Review your property portfolio. Make a list of the properties you own, including addresses, ownership details and tenancy arrangements.
2. Check your regional deadlines. Use the location of each property to identify the relevant registration date.
3. Organise your paperwork. Make sure you can access the relevant tenancy information, rental details and safety records.
4. Identify missing or out-of-date information. Find out what needs attention and whether any separate compliance action is required.
5. Budget for the fee. Allow for the £65 annual charge per property, taking any applicable first-year pro-rata arrangements into account.
6. Ask questions early. If you are unsure about the rules, your paperwork or the process, seek appropriate guidance before registration opens.
A little preparation now can make the process more manageable when registration begins.
How Footsteps Landlord Solutions can help
At FLS, we understand that being a landlord involves much more than collecting rent. Changing legislation, property paperwork and ongoing responsibilities can take time to understand and manage.
Whether you already use FLS to manage your property or look after your rental independently, we can offer practical support and guidance tailored to your needs.
We can help you understand the new landlord database requirements, identify the information you may need to prepare, organise relevant property records and work out the next steps. If you are an existing client, speak to us about how the changes affect your property and what preparation may be useful.
If you manage your own property or currently use another management arrangement, you are also welcome to contact us for advice and to discuss the support available.
If the new requirements have prompted you to reconsider how you manage your rental property, we can also discuss our property management services and how professional support could help you manage your responsibilities.
You do not need to wait until registration opens to ask questions.
Need help preparing for the new landlord database?
Contact FLS to discuss your questions, understand what you need to prepare and find out how we can support you.
Footsteps Landlord Solutions — landlord support you can trust.
This article provides general information based on published Government and National Residential Landlords Association guidance available at the time of writing. Rules and guidance may change. It is not a substitute for advice on your individual circumstances.
Frequently asked questions about the landlord database
Do I need to register if I only own one rental property?
If your property is let under a covered assured or regulated tenancy in England, you will generally need to register even if you own only one property. Check the official guidance for any exceptions that may apply.
Do I need to register if I use a letting agent?
Yes, if your property falls within the registration requirements. Using a letting agent or property management company does not remove your responsibility to register. Your agent may be able to help supply certain information, but you must initiate and complete the process yourself.
Do I have to register every rental property I own?
Each relevant property requires its own property entry. If you own several properties, check the applicable deadline for each one and prepare the information separately.
How much does the landlord database cost?
The standard fee is £65 per property per year. Pro-rata arrangements may apply in certain circumstances during the rollout.
When is the deadline for landlords in Yorkshire and Humber?
Under the published timetable, the registration deadline for Yorkshire and Humber is 14 July 2027. Registration opens nationally on 15 December 2026, so landlords can prepare and register earlier.
What information should I gather before registering?
Prepare your landlord and ownership details, property address and type, tenancy and rent information, relevant licensing details and applicable safety documentation. Check the official list of required information for your circumstances.
What happens if I miss my registration deadline?
Failure to comply can result in civil penalties and other consequences, depending on the circumstances. Potential penalties include fines of up to £7,000 for certain breaches and up to £40,000 for multiple or continued breaches. Seek advice promptly if you think you may have missed a requirement.
Can FLS help if I am not an existing client?
Yes. FLS welcomes enquiries from landlords who already use its property management services and those who manage their own properties or use another provider. Contact us to discuss the advice and support available.
Official guidance and further reading
Article review: Review the information against current official guidance before publication and whenever the Government updates the registration process.
