Private landlords across England will soon face a new statutory requirement to register every rental property they let and pay an annual fee for each property registered.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Renters' Rights Act, the government is introducing a new "Register your rental property" service. Under the new rules, landlords will be required to register both themselves and each individual rental property they let, with an annual registration fee of £65 per property. Landlords who fail to comply risk enforcement action and financial penalties.
Landlords operating in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remain subject to their own property registration and licensing regimes, although those with rental properties in England will need to comply with the new registration requirements regardless of where they are based.
For many landlords, this represents another significant administrative requirement at a time when the compliance burden on the private rented sector continues to increase.
What is the new register?
Landlords of assured and regulated tenancies in England will be required to register themselves and each qualifying rental property. Registration will not be a one-off exercise. Instead, registrations must be renewed annually, with the £65 fee applying to each property.
The government says the register will help provide greater visibility of rental properties and landlords while supporting enforcement activity where standards are not being met. At the same time, compliant landlords will be able to demonstrate they are meeting their obligations.
A phased rollout across England
The service is being introduced region by region across England from December 2026.
Importantly, the deadline is determined by the location of the property, not where the landlord lives. A landlord based in London with a property in Birmingham, for example, must meet the West Midlands deadline.
Region | Registration required from | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
West Midlands | 15 December 2026 | 14 March 2027 |
East of England | 15 January 2027 | 14 April 2027 |
East Midlands | 15 February 2027 | 14 May 2027 |
South East | 15 March 2027 | 14 June 2027 |
Yorkshire and Humber | 15 April 2027 | 14 July 2027 |
North West | 15 May 2027 | 14 August 2027 |
North East | 15 June 2027 | 14 September 2027 |
London | 15 July 2027 | 14 October 2027 |
South West | 15 August 2027 | 14 November 2027 |
Initially, landlords will be required to register properties that are already let or become let during the rollout period. Further requirements are expected to be introduced in relation to vacant properties marketed for rent.
What information will landlords need?
Landlords will need to provide a range of information about both themselves and their properties. This is expected to include property details, rental information and evidence of compliance with key safety requirements, including gas safety, electrical safety and EPC documentation. The registration process will be completed through a GOV.UK service and landlords will need a GOV.UK One Login account to access it.
For many landlords, particularly those who own only one or two properties, the practical challenge may not be the registration itself but navigating the growing number of government services that now require online verification and digital accounts.
More than just another £65 cost
The annual fee is likely to attract attention, particularly for landlords with larger property portfolios where costs can quickly accumulate. However, the wider impact may be the additional administration involved in gathering information, maintaining registrations and ensuring records remain up to date.
The introduction of the register also reflects a wider trend. Property owners are increasingly expected to interact with government services digitally, whether for Companies House compliance, tax reporting, Making Tax Digital or property-related regulatory obligations.
What should landlords do now?
Although registration deadlines do not begin until December 2026, there is a compelling case for preparing early.
Landlords may wish to:
- Review their rental property portfolio and ensure records are up to date.
- Check that compliance certificates are current and readily available.
- Familiarise themselves with GOV.UK One Login.
- Ensure the individuals responsible for property compliance can access and manage the relevant digital government services
- Identify which of their properties fall within the earlier registration regions.
Taking these steps now could help avoid unnecessary delays once registration becomes mandatory. If you have any questions, contact your usual Azets adviser or fill out the form below.
