The Private Rented Sector Database: when and how landlords register

The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, which the government calls “Register your rental property”, is a new national register of private landlords and rented homes in England. It was created by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Every private landlord will have to register themselves and each property they let, pay an annual fee and upload key safety certificates.

Status as of October 2026: the database is not live yet. The regulations have been published in draft, and the dates below come from the government’s published rollout plan. They could still change, so check the Housing Hub before your region opens.

When your region opens

The database is rolling out one region at a time. Each region has 3 months to register once it opens.

You can’t register before your region opens. If you let properties in more than one region, check on the official service how this works when it launches.

How much it costs

The fee is £65 per property per year, renewed annually. During the rollout it is pro-rated, so the first payment may be less than £65 depending on when your region opens. The regulations leave the fee amount to the database operator, so it could change in future years.

What you will need to register

Get these together before your region opens:

About you

• Your name and contact details as the landlord.

About each property

• Address
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of occupants
• Whether it is furnished
• The rent
• Which bills, if any, are included

Documents to upload

• Gas safety record, if the property has gas
• EICR (electrical installation condition report)
• EPC (energy performance certificate)

This is a good moment to check your certificates are in date. If your EICR or gas record is about to expire, renew it before you register so you don’t upload a document that lapses soon after. See typical prices for an EICR, a gas safety certificate and an EPC.

Registration numbers in adverts

Once registered, you must include the property’s registration number in adverts. If you use a letting agent, make sure they have the number for each listing.

Penalties for not registering

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils can impose civil penalties:

• Up to £7,000 for initial breaches, such as failing to register.
• Up to £40,000 for serious, repeated or continuing breaches, or prosecution with an unlimited fine.

These are maximums. How they will be applied to the database in practice will become clearer once it is live.

How it fits with other changes

The database is phase 2 of the Renters’ Rights Act. Phase 1, which ended section 21 and made tenancies periodic, took effect on 1 May 2026. Compulsory membership of a new landlord ombudsman is expected to follow in 2028. Our Renters’ Rights Act guide has the full timeline.

What isn’t confirmed yet

Because the service isn’t live, some details are still open:

• Final regulations. The Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 were published in draft. Check legislation.gov.uk for whether they have been made in their final form.
• The registration process itself. Exactly how the online service will work, including for landlords with properties in several regions or jointly owned properties, will only be clear at launch.
• Future fees. The £65 figure applies to the rollout. Because the operator sets the fee, later years could differ.
• Enforcement approach. Councils will enforce the penalties, and practice may vary between areas.

We will update this page when the service opens.

Scotland and Wales

The PRS Database covers England only. Landlords in Scotland already register with their council through Scottish landlord registration, and landlords in Wales register with Rent Smart Wales. See the landlord compliance checklist for the rules in each nation.

Getting ready

• Find out which region each of your properties is in and note the opening date.
• Check your gas record, EICR and EPC are valid, and have digital copies ready.
• Budget £65 per property per year.
• Set certificate reminders so your uploads stay in date.