Alongside the end of Section 21, the Renters' Rights Act creates something the English private rented sector has never had: a single national register of landlords and properties. It begins a phased, regional rollout in late 2026, and registration will be mandatory.
What the database is for
- Landlords must register themselves, their properties, and compliance information.
- An annual fee will apply, confirmed closer to launch.
- Prospective tenants can check that a property is properly registered and view any enforcement history against the landlord.
- Local authorities gain a clearer view of who owns what — strengthening enforcement.
Why it matters even before you register
The database turns your compliance record into something public and portable. A clean record becomes a selling point to good tenants; gaps become visible. Some possession and marketing activities are expected to depend on being correctly registered, so this won't be optional in practice.
How to prepare
- 1Get your compliance documents in order now — certificates, deposits, licences — so registration is a data-entry job, not a scramble.
- 2Keep an accurate list of every property and its current status.
- 3Watch for your region's rollout date and register promptly when it opens.
- 4Treat your public record as a reputation asset, not just a legal box.
How Rentwire helps
Registration is only painful if your records are scattered. Rentwire already holds each property's certificates, deposit status and tenancy details in one place, so when your region's database opens you can pull a complete, current compliance picture for every property instead of hunting through folders and inboxes.
Frequently asked questions
- When does the landlord database go live?
- It begins a phased, regional rollout in late 2026. Registration will be mandatory for private landlords, with an annual fee confirmed nearer launch.
- What will tenants be able to see on the PRS database?
- Prospective tenants will be able to check that a property is legitimately registered and view any enforcement history recorded against the landlord.
This article is general information for UK landlords and letting agents, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and individual circumstances differ — check the latest guidance from GOV.UK or a qualified professional before acting.