Landlord guides

The new landlord database, explained

Last updated 25 October 2026

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 creates a national register of private landlords and their rented homes in England. The government's online service, called Register your rental property, opens on 15 December 2026, and registration will become compulsory region by region. This guide explains who needs to register, when, and what it costs.

Who must register

Every private landlord in England must register themselves and each property they let, with only limited exceptions. Where a property is owned by a limited company, the company is the landlord.

The landlord must complete the registration. A letting agent cannot register on a landlord's behalf, although an agent can help gather and provide some of the information.

What it costs

The fee is £65 per property, per year. Each property needs its own entry.

When your region starts

Each region has a start date, and landlords then have three months to register. The deadline depends on where the property is, not where the landlord lives. Any landlord can register early, from 15 December 2026.

What you will need

Registration asks for details of the landlord and of each property, including its safety records: the gas safety record, the electrical safety report and the Energy Performance Certificate. Any gaps in safety paperwork will therefore be visible, so it is worth making sure everything is up to date before your region starts. Our guide to landlord safety checks explains what each property needs.

What happens if you do not register

• Councils can impose civil penalties of up to £7,000, for example for marketing a property without an active registration, and up to £40,000 for serious or repeated breaches or for knowingly giving false information.
• In most cases, a court will not grant a possession order unless the landlord and the property are both registered.
• Tenants may be able to apply for a rent repayment order in some circumstances.

How we help

MSJ Estates keeps every certificate and report for the properties we manage, tracks renewal dates, and will tell our landlords when their region opens. We will help you prepare the information so registration is quick, and provide documents where the service allows. Find out more about our full management service.