My landlord has several properties. Does each one need to be registered separately?

Yes. The register works property by property rather than landlord by landlord, so a landlord who lets more than one home is expected to register each property individually, on the same regional timetable and, once published, the same annual fee per property.

When does the private rented sector database start?

The landlord registration service, the first step towards the private rented sector database, launches on 15 December 2026 in the West Midlands and reaches the rest of England over 12 months. Every landlord actively letting property must be registered by 14 November 2027.

How much will it cost a landlord to register?

Not yet known. The government has confirmed a registration fee and a fine for landlords who do not register, but it has not published either amount.

Can I search the landlord register to check my landlord?

Not straight away. The government says tenants will be able to see whether their landlord has signed up as the public side of the service is rolled out. Until then, ask your council whether it runs a licensing scheme that covers your home.

Is this the same as landlord registration in Scotland or Wales?

No. This register is for England. Scotland and Wales already run their own landlord registration schemes.

What happens if my landlord just refuses to register?

The government has confirmed that non-compliance carries a fine, though it has not yet said how much. Separately, the wider Renters' Rights Act raises the maximum civil penalty a council can issue for certain existing housing offences from £30,000 to £40,000, which gives some sense of the direction enforcement is moving in, even though that particular figure applies to different offences rather than to non-registration itself.

Will the cost of registering just get added to my rent?

That is a reasonable concern, and one landlord groups have already raised, but there is no confirmed figure yet for either the registration fee or its effect on rents. It is worth watching for when the government actually publishes the amount, rather than assuming an outcome now.

My tenancy already started. Do I need to do anything before December?

No. There is nothing for a tenant to sign up for or complete. The obligation to register sits entirely with your landlord, and the earliest any region's window opens is December 2026, in the West Midlands specifically.

Does this replace my council's existing licensing scheme?

Not on the current timetable. Selective licensing and licensing for houses in multiple occupation are separate, council-run schemes that continue alongside the new national register, so a landlord may need to satisfy both rather than one instead of the other.

Start My Claim

The New Landlord Register Finally Has a Start Date. Most of the Details Do Not.

The landlord register for England opens on 15 December 2026 in the West Midlands, with a 14 November 2027 deadline. What is confirmed, an…