PRS Database: what letting agencies in England need to know
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026
Last checked: 30 September 2026. This is general guidance for England, not legal advice. Dates are as published by GOV.UK and depend on the regulations being approved. Check GOV.UK for the current position.
From December 2026, landlords in England must register their rented properties on a national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database. Agents will be asked for the same records, so it pays to get them in order now.
1. What it is
- A national register of private landlords and their rented properties in England.
- It is part of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
- Landlords of assured or regulated tenancies must register. Supported exempt accommodation is excluded.
- Councils will use it to find poor-quality landlords and to take enforcement action faster.
2. When it starts
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15 December 2026 | Rollout begins in the West Midlands |
| January to August 2027 | Other regions follow, month by month, from the East of England to the South West |
| 3 months | Each region's landlords get a three-month window to register once their region opens |
| 14 October 2027 | London's deadline (GOV.UK's Housing Hub) |
| 14 November 2027 | Final deadline for all landlords |
Check which region each property is in. A portfolio across several regions will have several deadlines.
3. What landlords must provide
About the landlord
- Name, date of birth, address and contact details.
- For a company: legal entity type, Companies House number and director details.
About each property
- Address, ownership type, dwelling type and number of bedrooms.
- Whether it is let, the number of tenants, and whether it is furnished.
Safety and energy records
- Gas safety record.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or certificate.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
For occupied properties, the tenancy and compliance details can be added within 28 days of creating the entry.
4. Cost
GOV.UK's Housing Hub currently gives the fee as £65 per property per year, pro-rated during the initial rollout. The regulations leave the fee to the database operator, so check before you quote it to clients.
5. What it means for agents
- Landlords stay responsible for registering and for providing the information.
- Agents can upload certain information for their landlords, limited to tenancy and compliance details.
- Adverts: GOV.UK says agents must include the registration number on property advertisements. Check the final rules before you change your listings.
- Future rule: GOV.UK says empty properties will need to be registered before they are marketed for letting.
- Penalties: non-registration risks fines. Councils can take enforcement action after a region's deadline passes.
6. Get ready: a short checklist
- List every managed property with its region.
- Note each landlord's legal details, whether individual or company.
- Confirm a valid gas safety record for every property.
- Confirm a valid EICR.
- Confirm a valid EPC.
- Agree with each landlord who will register and who will upload the tenancy details.
- Put each region's deadline in the diary.
7. Keep the records in one place
The database asks for the same certificates agents already need to track. If gas, electrical and EPC records are attached to each property, registration becomes a copy-and-paste job rather than a hunt through email.
Habitix keeps these records against each property and flags what is missing or about to expire. See Habitix.
Sources: Register your rental property: get ready (GOV.UK Housing Hub) · Stronger protections and greater confidence for renters (GOV.UK) · The Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 (legislation.gov.uk) · Implementing the Renters' Rights Act 2025: roadmap (GOV.UK)