Guide

How landlord registration works

Every private landlord in England with assured or regulated tenancies must register themselves and each of their rental properties on the government's new database.

Last checked 5 October 2026 against the Regulations and GOV.UK.

Who has to register

The law applies to landlords of assured and regulated tenancies in England, which covers almost all private renting. You register twice over:

• A landlord entry for you (or your company)
• A property entry for each home you let

If you let through a limited company, the company registers as the landlord, using its Companies House details.

Which properties are covered

The register covers homes that are let, or that you intend to let, on a residential tenancy. If a property is empty, you still need to register it before you advertise it, because the law doesn't allow you to market a home without active entries.

The register doesn't cover:

• supported exempt accommodation
• properties in Wales or Scotland, which have their own schemes: Rent Smart Wales and Landlord Registration Scotland

A lodger living in your own home doesn't usually have an assured tenancy, so the register won't normally apply. If you're unsure what kind of tenancy you have, check before your deadline.

Who can register for you

You must register yourself. Letting agents can't do it for you, although they can supply some of the information once you've started.

The Regulations allow a small number of people to register on a landlord's behalf, including:

• someone with a power of attorney for the landlord
• a court-appointed deputy
• the personal representative of a landlord who has died

The steps

1. Check your deadline. It depends on where the property is. See deadlines by region.
2. Gather your details and certificates. See documents you need.
3. Create your landlord entry on the official service on GOV.UK.
4. Add each property and pay the £65 fee for it.
5. Add the tenancy and safety details within 28 days of creating the property entry.
6. Keep it up to date and renew every 12 months. See after you register.

The 28-day rule

You can create a property entry with just the basics, such as the address and number of bedrooms. The rest, including your gas safety record, electrical report and EPC, must be added within 28 days of creating the entry.

Once you're registered, the database gives you and each property a unique identifier, which works like a registration number.

Sources

• The Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 (regulations 3, 4 and 6, schedules 2 and 3)
• Renters' Rights Act 2025, section 82
• GOV.UK: Guide to the Renters' Rights Act