The new landlord database is coming - here's what it costs you

A new phase of the Renters' Rights Act has just been confirmed, and it affects every landlord in England. Rollout of the new national landlord database begins this December, and registration will be compulsory - not optional.

📋 What's happening

The Government's new "Register your rental property" service - the PRS Database - launches on 15th December, starting in the West Midlands and rolling out region by region over 12 months. Every landlord with an assured or regulated tenancy will need to register themselves and each property they let, providing personal, property, tenancy and health and safety details, including gas, electrical and EPC certificates.

Once your region is called forward, you'll have a three-month window to register. All landlords in England must be registered by 14th November 2027.

💷 What it costs

£65 per property, renewed annually. The Government describes the fee as "fair and sustainable," but it's a genuine, recurring cost to factor in alongside licensing, insurance, and compliance certification. If you use a letting agent, you'll still need to register yourself - though your agent can upload certain information on your behalf.

📍 Your North East deadline

If your properties are in the North East - including Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough or Stockton-on-Tees - your registration deadline is 14th September 2027. That's later than most of the country, which gives you time to prepare properly rather than rushing it.

If you have properties in other parts of the country, here's the full regional timetable:

✅ What to do now

You don't need to register today - your three-month window opens around June 2027, ahead of the 14th September deadline. But it's worth starting to gather your gas safety, electrical safety and EPC certificates now, so registration is straightforward when the time comes. Properties that are empty and being marketed to let don't need to be registered at this stage, though that's expected to change in future.

If you'd like help getting ready for registration, or want to talk through what this means for your portfolio, just reply and I'll walk you through it.