New Rental Property Register: What Landlords Need to Know

The government has published guidance on the new Register Your Rental Property Service, a significant change that will affect private landlords across England.

Introduced as part of the Renters’ Rights Act, the service will create a national register of landlords and privately rented properties, with registration beginning in phases from December 2026.

For landlords, this means new legal responsibilities, registration deadlines, and annual fees. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and how to prepare.

What is the Register Your Rental Property Service?

The new service will require private landlords in England to register both themselves and their rental properties with a central government-run database. The aim is to improve standards, increase transparency in the private rented sector, and help local authorities identify and tackle non-compliance.

Who Will Need to Register?

Most private landlords will be affected, including:

• Individual landlords
• Sole traders
• Joint landlords
• Property investment companies
• Trusts and charities
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and other organisational landlord

Where a property is owned jointly, each landlord must be registered, although only one landlord needs to complete the property registration and invite the others to be associated with it.

When Does Registration Start?

The service will be introduced region by region, beginning on 15 December 2026. Landlords will have a three-month window to register occupied properties in their area.

For landlords across the South East, registration opens on 15 March 2027 and closes on 14 June 2027.

Although registration is being rolled out regionally, landlords with properties in multiple regions will be able to register them in advance, provided all deadlines are met.

What Information Will Be Required?

Landlords will need to provide details about themselves and each rental property. This includes:

• Property address and basic details
• Number of bedrooms
• Current rental status
• Contact details for any managing agents
• Details of freeholders or superior landlords where applicable
• An address for correspondence in England or Wales

In addition, landlords will need to supply compliance information such as:

• Gas Safety Certificate information (where applicable)
• Electrical Safety Certificate information
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) details
• Tenancy information, including rent levels
• HMO and other licensing information where relevant

The government has stated that landlords can complete the initial registration and then have up to 28 days to provide any outstanding property information. Failure to complete the process could result in the registration being deactivated.

Can Letting Agents Help?

Many landlords will be pleased to hear that letting and managing agents can assist with providing tenancy and compliance information after the initial registration has been completed. However, the landlord remains legally responsible for ensuring the registration is accurate and completed within the required timeframe.

What About HMOs?

For landlords operating a licensed HMO, only one property registration will be required for the entire property. Individual rooms do not need to be registered separately.

How Landlords Can Prepare Now

While registration deadlines are still several months away, landlords can make life easier by:

• Ensuring compliance certificates are up to date
• Checking EPC validity dates
• Reviewing tenancy records
• Confirming HMO and licensing documentation is current
• Keeping ownership and contact details accurate
• Speaking with your managing agent about how registration information will be collected and maintained

Getting organised now will help avoid a rush when registration opens in your region.

Final Thoughts

The new Register Your Rental Property Service is another major step in the ongoing reform of the private rented sector. While it does introduce additional administration and costs for landlords, it also creates a single system for demonstrating compliance and managing essential property information.

Need help or guidance on how to approach the register? Get in touch with the Coapt team to discuss your options and stay ahead of the upcoming deadlines.